Nawaz Sharif continues to rule people’s hearts: Marriyum Aurangzeb

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Friday Nawaz Sharif continues to rule the public’s hearts, even after being disqualified to hold office by the Supreme Court.

Speaking to reporters following the landmark verdict in Panama Papers case, Aurangzeb said she was “dismayed but not surprised” at the judgment.

“Nawaz Sharif is a reality. PML-N is a reality. It is Pakistan’s biggest political party. History is witness to this: whenever Nawaz Sharif has been removed from the political landscape, he has been brought back into the parliament in bigger force by the support of the people,” she said.

“Nawaz Sharif has been elected PM thrice by the public, but no corruption has ever been established against him. That day is not far when he becomes the PM for the fourth time,” she asserted.

Aurangzeb said the PML-N will decide its next course of action after reviewing the details of the judgment and consulting with legal experts.

Panama verdict: PM disqualified

The verdict was announced by the five-member bench which heard the case afresh since January this year

The Supreme Court earlier today disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over long-running corruption allegations stemming from the Panama Papers leak last year linking the premier’s family to lucrative offshore businesses.

"He is disqualified as a member of the parliament so he has ceased to be holding the office of Prime Minister," Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan read out the verdict before the packed courtroom.

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.