ISLAMABAD: Hailing the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case that has disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from holding public office, the opposition foresees a new era of across-the-board accountability of politicians and bureaucrats, including those who helped in concealing his corruption.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, who was one of the petitioners in the case, termed the verdict the “dawn of a new Pakistan” and said: “Today is the beginning of a new Pakistan where justice will prevail and more big fish will be caught soon.”

Speaking at a press conference at his Banigala residence after the apex court’s much-awaited verdict on Friday, he said the court and its Joint Investigation Team (JIT) deserved appreciation from the nation for the unprecedented decision. “I congratulate the nation and thank the SC and the JIT for upholding the law.”

“I ask those ministers and heads of state institutions like the National Accountability Bureau and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, who were bent upon protecting the corruption of Mr Sharif and his family, whether they had not thought about the future of their children.”

“It has been established that the NAB chief, who is responsible for keeping the country’s assets safe, is involved in covering up Mr Sharif’s corruption,” he alleged.

Mr Khan said the JIT’s work and the court verdict had given hope to the nation that the apex court had stood on its feet and was capable of retrieving looted money from the corrupt. “This will not end here; those who are receiving heavy kickbacks and commission in development projects will also be taken to task,” he said.

The PTI chief said he was happy because the day had come when the founder of the country Qaudi-i-Azam’s dream to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state had come true. “Pakistan has won today,” he added.

He accused the government of bringing the country to the verge of destruction and economic crisis. “The government has taken $10 billion loan only in one year and, according to a US report, $10bn is laundered from Pakistan every year,” he said, adding that Mr Sharif’s disqualification was the first step towards saving the country.

Mr Khan announced that the PTI would observe Yaum-i-Tashakkur (day of thanksgiving) on Sunday by holding a public meeting at Parade Ground to celebrate ‘Pakistan’s victory against corruption’.

Replying to a question about the post-Supreme Court decision situation in the country, he asked PTI workers not to engage in any kind of confrontation that might cause chaos.

Awami Muslim League president Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has urged Mr Sharif not to react to the Supreme Court’s decision and warned that he (Mr Sharif) will be responsible if any untoward situation appears.

He hoped that an unprecedented process of accountability would kick off in the country to bring back looted wealth to the country.

Mr Rashid said he had predicted last year that a “sacrifice” would be made before Eidul Azha. “My prediction has come true but after lapse of a year,” he said.

He claimed that there was a rift not only in the ranks of the PML-N but also in the Sharif family. “Today Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Sharif also must be happy,” he said in a lighter vein.

Jamaat-i-Islami leader Sirajul Haq, who was also a petitioner in Panama Papers case, said the process of across-the-board accountability would continue and those public office-holders who did not meet the criteria of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution would be disqualified. He requested the Supreme Court to ensure implementation of Articles 62 and 63 in letter and spirit.

Mr Haq warned the ruling PML-N and its allies not to make any attempt to remove Articles 62 and 63 from the Constitution that required public office holders to be ‘sagacious and honest’ and warned: “Our hands will be on the neck of those who will try to remove these provisions from the Constitution.”

Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said the verdict is a victory not of a single party but of people and Pakistan, which will contribute to elimination of corruption, strengthening of democracy and institution building.

Speaking at a press conference at Bilawal House in Karachi, he said that the PPP believed in across-the-board accountability. All cases of corruption pending in the Supreme Court — including those of dictators — should be heard and decided without any further delay, he said.

Quoting his mother Benazir Bhutto as saying that a day would come when Nawaz Sharif would cry and remember her and her father, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said: “Today is the most important day in the history of Pakistan and democracy.”

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has advised the PML-N to immediately call a session of the National Assembly to elect a new prime minister and appoint new cabinet members. “The vacuum emerging with the dissolution of the cabinet should be filled as soon as possible,” it said.

Pakistan Muslim League-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has termed the Supreme Court verdict a ‘historical’ one and said the nation was proud of it.

He said in a statement it had been proved that only five men could change the destiny of a country. “It is beginning of corruption-free Pakistan,” he hoped.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2017