TAHIR AMIN

ISLAMABAD: Accepting the Supreme Court verdict in the Panama Papers case, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leadership said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has lost the moral ground to rule the country anymore and demanded his immediate resignation to ensure smooth and transparent investigation by the joint investigation team (JIT).

Chairman PTI Imran Khan left Supreme Court without talking to media after the apex court announced its judgment in which it also called for setting up a JIT to further investigate the allegations.

Talking to media persons soon after the apex court decision, PTI leaders including Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail, Naemm-ul-Haq and Usman Dar said that all the five judges of the larger bench have stated that “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has failed in defence and told lies before the nation”.

Furthermore, the evidences presented by the Prime Minister were not of the worth to be relied upon, they said, adding that formation of a JIT comprising ISI, MI, FIA, SECP and State Bank of Pakistan officials has been ordered because of the weaknesses of Nawaz Sharif in his defence.

He said the JIT would be constituted in seven days which would further investigate the matter in 60 days. “Imagine the Prime Minister of the country would present himself before an FIA director,” he added.

The JIT would investigate how Prime Minister accumulated black money and a Supreme Court bench would monitor it.

Chaudhry said that two judges including Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Gulzar have reached the result that Prime Minister should be disqualified. Three judges have stated to wait for 60 days and investigate the issue further while two judges ruled that it is enough and send Prime Minister home, Chaudhry added.

He termed the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) celebrations as a way to hide their defeat. If the Prime Minister had a little moral courage, he would have resigned after the Panama Papers verdict, Chaudhry added. They said that the apex court’s decision is acceptable to the party.

Fawad Chaudhry said that JIT is made for criminals, adding Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) does not even know what has happened.

Likewise, Imran Ismail said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has got life of just 67 days more after this decision.

Awami Muslim League (AML) President Sheikh Rasheed expressed that he is neither happy nor sad over SC’s verdict in the Panama Papers case.

He was of the opinion that two judges have accepted his stance and that he has got sixty more days to criticise the government.