Islamabad: (Parliament Times) The Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan on Friday attended the consultative meeting of Pakistan Muslim League (N), which was held under the chairmanship of the Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at Prime Minister House.
The meeting discussed the post judicial verdict on PANAMA case and also exchanged views on the present political situation of the country. AJK minister for Information Raja Mushtaq Minhas and member Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council Abdul Khaliq Wassi also attended the meeting.
Pertinently, the Supreme Court of Pakistan in its landmark decision on Panama case on Friday disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from holding public office. Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, who headed the apex court’s implementation bench following its April 20 order on the Panama Papers case, announced that the larger bench had unanimously deemed PM Sharif unfit for holding office and would also order an accountability court to open references against him and his family, and other respondents.
Shortly after the order, the PM House issued a notification saying that Nawaz Sharif, despite having “strong reservations” on the SC’s verdict, has stepped down from his post as the premier.
Meanwhile, PML-N spokesperson said that the party will utilise all legal and constitutional means to contest the verdict. The judgment, announced by the implementation bench, has brought Sharif’s third term in power to an unceremonious end.
The judges in their unanimous decision ruled that PML-N president and former prime minister of Pakistan had been dishonest to the parliament and the courts in not disclosing his employment in the Dubai-based Capital FZE company in his 2013 nomination papers, and thus, could not be deemed fit for his office.
Moreover, the court has asked the NAB to file references against Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Hussain Nawaz Sharif, Hassan Nawaz Sharif, and Capt. (Retd) Muhammad Safdar relating to the Avenfield properties in London, United Kingdom.
Reference against Nawaz Sharif, Hussain and Hassan Nawaz regarding Azizia Steel Company and Hill Metal Establishment.
Besides the former prime minister the apex court also declared Finance minister Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Captain Safdar, who is an MNA, as unfit for office. ECP has been directed to de-seat Dar for “possessing assets and funds beyond his known sources of income”
It may be recalled here that PML-N President, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif assumed the office as Prime Minister of Pakistan after his party emerged as single largest party in 2013 general elections. He was sworn in to become not only the 27th Prime Minister of Pakistan but also the first ever Pakistani politician to assume the office of the country’s chief executive for the third time.
Nawaz Sharif began his political career way back in 1981 when he became Finance Minister Punjab, in 1985 he became Chief Minister of the province and in 1990 he was elected as prime minister for the first time. His first government was dismissed by then President Ghullam Ishaq Khan. However, the Supreme Court reinstated Sharif’s government but in 1993, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was coerced to tender his resignation. He was elected Prime Minister for a second time in 1997 securing a heavy mandate. However 12 October 1999, his government was sent packing after then Chief of Army Staff General (retired) Pervez Musharaff toppled the Sharif government, sending Nawaz Sharif first to Jail and then into exile.
