Pak apex court to decide fate of Sharif, family
Experts said the judgment was important in the context of the general elections next year.
Islamabad: Pakistan’s Supreme Court will announce its verdict on Thursday in the Panamaleaks scandal against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family — with rivals hoping the PM would be disqualified and sent home.
A five-member Bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, and including Justices Ejaz Afzal Khan, Gulzar Ahmed, Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Ijazul Ahsan, on February 23 reserved verdict on the Panamagate case after both the defence and the prosecution completed their arguments. Justice Khosa said the judgment would be remembered even after 20 years.
According to officials, the judgment would consist of over 500 pages and additional notes. They said though the judges had decided the case, extra care was being taken and the judgment was never discussed in their chambers. The judges come out in the open, if they want to discuss it.
Experts said the judgment was important in the context of the general elections next year.
All political parties, including the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf and the Jamaat-e-Islami hope to use the verdict in their campaigns for the 2018 polls.
PTI and many believe the decision will be against Nawaz Sharif and his kin.
The Supreme Court verdict will decide on the disqualification of the PM over his speeches to the nation and on the floor of the National Assembly.