LAHORE: The Pakistan Bar Council — the top regulatory body of lawyers — has disowned the announcement of a movement by the Lahore High Court Bar Association to force Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down in the wake of the Panama Papers case verdict.

“We do believe the PM has no moral ground to continue in his office after the Panamagate verdict; however, announcing a movement by the LHCBA at this stage is a premature move,” PBC vice chairman Ahsan Bhoon told Dawn on Sunday.

He said the hasty announcement by the LHCBA would be suggestive of distrust on the highest apex institution of judiciary.

At a press conference on Saturday, LHCBA president Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali and other office-bearers had given an ultimatum to the prime minister to resign within a week or face a lawyers’ movement which would be bigger than the one launched for restoration of judges sacked by former military dictator retired Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Besides the ruling PML-N, the announcement had surprised many, including leaders of other bar associations. However, later talking to a television channel on Satur­day evening, Mr Ali slightly admitted that the announcement was made in haste.

Mr Bhoon said the PBC would soon hold a conference of lawyers’ representatives from across the country to decide how to react to the Panama Papers judgement. He said such decision should be taken after thorough deliberation and consultation with all stakeholders.

The Supreme Court Bar Association also had the same view on the option of launching a movement to force the prime minister to resign. Its secretary Aftab Bajwa said a comprehensive process of consultations among all stakeholders was critical before taking a decision on such a matter.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2017