Nawaz Sharif steps down as PM after Supreme Court verdict
According to reports Nawaz Sharif has recommends Shehbaz Sharif as the next PM candidate
July 28, 2017
ISLAMABAD: Nawaz Sharif has stepped down as the prime minister following the verdict of the Supreme Court, a PML-N spokesman told Geo News.
The federal cabinet has also been dissolved after Nawaz Sharif stepped down.
In line with the Supreme Court's order, the Election Commission of Pakistan has issued the notification disqualifying Nawaz Sharif from the National Assembly.
Read more: ECP de-notifies Nawaz
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for failing to disclose his un-withdrawn receivables constituting assets from UAE-based Capital FZE in his nomination papers for the 2013 elections.
The court also ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file a reference against Nawaz Sharif, his three children and others in an accountability court in six weeks, and directed for the trial to be wrapped up within six months.
Announcing their verdict in the Panama Papers case, all five judges ruled to send a reference against the premier, his three children and others to an accountability court.
The court ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file a reference against the accused in an accountability court in six weeks and directed for the trial to be wrapped up within six months.
Nawaz Sharif chaired a meeting to discuss the Panama Papers case during which the decision to appoint the candidate for the prime minister was discussed.
According to reports, Nawaz Sharif recommended the name of his brother Shehbaz Sharif to be the candidate for prime minister. A name for the interim prime minister who will remain in office for 45-days until Shehbaz Sharif becomes a member of National Assembly was not revealed.
A final decision on naming an interim PM and then appointing Shehbaz Sharif as the next candidate for the post will be made during a meeting of the PML-N on Saturday.
Read more: Nawaz recommends Shehbaz
Speaking at a news conference following the meeting, PML-N lawmaker Ahsan Iqbal quoted Nawaz Sharif as saying: “We will defend the mandate of the people of Pakistan.”
Maryam Nawaz tweeted pictures of the meeting, saying the party stands united, more resolute and unfazed.
Sharif expressed sorrow over the Supreme Court’s decision, sources told Geo News.
Earlier, legal aides, advisers and federal ministers were present at the PM House where Sharif heard the verdict of the Panama Papers case.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Governors of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also present in the meeting.
PML-N leaders — before the verdict’s announcement — stated that the government wants the Parliament to complete its tenure.
