KARACHI: Politicians, celebrities and journalists started their day tweeting about what they were expecting from the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Sharif family’s fate on Friday. As soon as the apex court read the judgement, Twitter exploded with tweets from all over the world.

The journalists who broke the Panama Papers story back in 2016 and won a Pulitzer prize for it — Bastian Obermayer and Frederik Obermaier — took to social media soon after the apex court announced its decision to disqualify Nawaz Sharif.

German reporter Bastian Obermayer (@b_obermayer) tweeted on Friday: “Historic: After Iceland the second prime minister — Navaz Sharif — has to leave office because of #panamapapers. Verdict #Pakistan @ICJorg.”

He also retweeted Pakistani journalist Umar Cheema and said: “Unanimous verdict. That’s a message...”

Frederik Obermaier, another German reporter who worked with Mr Obermayer on the story, tweeted from a verified account (f_obermaier): “|Historic #PanamaPapers-verdict and First Iceland, now Pakistan: PM falls over #PanamaPapers”

US whistleblower Edward Snowden (@Snowden) who has been in Russia since 2013, retweeted the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) updates on the SC verdict and said: “What a draining the swamp actually looks like: Court disqualify national leader — exposed as corrupt by journalists — from office for life.”

Indian journalist Barkha Dutt (@BDUTT) tweeted: “So who is next Prime Minister of Pakistan? @CMShehbaz or will @MaryamNSharif take central and bigger role? #panama #NawazSharif.”

Sigrun Davidsdottir, an Icelandic journalist, tweeted: “When #PanamaPapers exposed Pakistani PM family, Pakistani in #London told me Pakistan wasn’t like #Iceland, nothing wld happen. Well, it did.”

Imran Khan’s ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith tweeted: “Good riddance to the man who tried to get me jailed when I was pregnant with my 2nd child on trumped up (non bailable) charges of smuggling.

“Good riddance! Still today spewing out those same, tired, old Zionist conspiracy theories that blighted my life in Pakistan 20 yrs ago.

“No civilian PM of Pakistan has ever completed a full 5 yr term. Inshallah the next one will.”

Declan Walsh (@declanwalsh) of The New York Times tweeted: “Third strike for Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif, as Supreme Court ousts him over corruption probe.”

Former ambassador Husain Haqqani (@husainhaqqani) tweeted: “#Pakistan stays faithful to its 70-year tradition: “No PM ever removed by voters; only by judges, generals, bureaucrats or assassins.”

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) tweeted: “Today Rule of Law won the day. Justice was done; the strong have been brought under the law. PTI’s struggle 4 Insaf for all has borne fruit.

“Pakistani nation stands tall today in comity of nations with democracy strengthened and rule of law asserted against the powerful.”

Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari’s youngest daughter Aseefa (@AseefaBZ) tweeted: “Disqualified!”

Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) used the hashtag #NoSympathyforCorrupts and tweeted several photos with PTI chief Imran Khan. He also tweeted: “Game is over pupo failed in all five papers.”

Two-time Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy tweeted: “Accountability is only for democratic leaders in #pakistan.”

Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sherry Rehman (@sherryrehman) tweeted: “PM Y R Gilani was disqualified by a 3 member bench of the Supreme Court. Today 5 sit in judgement on much more on another PM #PanamaVerdict.”

Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam tweeted in defence of her family (@MaryamNSharif): “Another elected Prime Minister sent home, but only to see him return with greater force & support & soonest Insha’Allah. Stay strong PMLN.

“Today will pave the way for Nawaz Sharif’s resounding victory in 2018. He will be unstoppable. Insha’Allah. Rok sakte ho to rok lo!”

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2017