After the verdict, a minister in Sharif's cabinet declared victory and said that the prime minister's party had been vindicated since when the corruption allegations first surfaced, Sharif had asked for the formation of a commission to conduct investigations and the supreme court had ordered exactly that. The inclusion of the intelligence agencies in the investigation means Sharif and his family "won't be able to play around or drag their feet", he said.
Defence expert Uday Bhaskar said that the apex court's verdict has given a big relief to Sharif.
Two of five judges on the court bench recommended Sharif should step down, saying he was dishonest "to the nation as well as to the parliament", but they were outvoted.
"As the Supreme Court has rejected Nawaz Sharif's stance, he has lost his standing to continue to function as the prime minister of the country", he added.
"A thorough investigation is required", Justice Asif Saeed Khosa told the court. He wants the Prime Minister to resign so that the JIT can accomplish its task without interference.
"Throughout the world, public office-holders implicated in the Panama [Papers] scandal have relinquished their posts, but the prime minister insists on staying in power", he complained, emphasising that the bar association's demand for PM's resignation was legitimate and fair.
A LOOMING Supreme Court decision that could disqualify prime minister Nawaz Sharif over corruption allegations had the country on edge today (April 19), as a drawn-out investigation related to the "Panama Papers" leaks neared a conclusion.
Turkish party to challenge election decision
The High Electoral Board announced in a written statement its decision by a 10-1 vote to reject three requests by the opposition. The High Electoral Board said it assessed appeals from the CHP and two other parties at a seven-hour meeting on Wednesday.
Pakistan is facing a general election next year, and the court case was seen as a pre-emptive strike against Sharif. "Our government and entire leadership are performing their duties as per routine", Talal Chaudhry a prominent leader of Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz told Geo Television.
The focus of the probe was on the funds used to purchase property in London using offshore companies.
He expressed doubts that junior officers working under Sharif can not deliver justice as part of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) when the highest court failed to deliver justice.
Over 1,500 police officers were stationed in Islamabad on Thursday.
Speaking to the media here, Nisar mentioned how the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leadership had initially demanded that a JIT, including members from Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI), be formed to investigate allegations of corruption, Dawn online reported.
Khan's party could yet fail to capitalize on the investigation, he said-meanwhile, Sharif's party no longer faces a leadership crisis.
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