Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) Asad Umar in a press conference on Wednesday asked Finance Minister Ishaq Dar why he continued defending the Sharif family.

"How long will you keep defending these criminals?" Umar posed a question to Dar, who was not present at the occasion.

The PTI leader claimed that Dar's confession during the Supreme Court-sanctioned investigation into the Sharif family's wealth had been corroborated by other evidence and proven to be correct.

However, Umar questioned, "How is it that all evidence corroborated the story you shared in your confessional statement if it was false?"

The PTI leader added that his issue with Dar was not personal as he enjoyed a healthy personal relationship with the finance minister.

"Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself said, 'I will go home without a moment's delay if any wrongdoing is proven against me'," Umar recalled. "Had he resigned 15 months ago, he would not have seen this day."

"I did not comment on how the JIT was doing earlier because I did not know what was happening behind closed doors but now that the report has been made public, the nation should appreciate that the JIT has shown bravery and competence in its job," he said.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday had alleged the investigation was a part of an international conspiracy, claiming that there were significant gaps in the report.

The PTI's Shafqat Mehmood, who was also present at the press conference today, also put the finance minister on the spot when he asked why Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan Chairman Zafar Hijazi remained at his post despite the SC order of registration of a criminal case against him for his involvement in alleged record-tampering as revealed by a Federal Investigation Agency probe.

"I ask you Mr Dar, how can he remain the chairman? Who better than you knows that the SECP regulates all industrial and economic institutions which keep the country's economy going? It regulates the stock exchange where hundreds of billions are traded. Should a person against whom an FIR has been filed remain the SECP chairman?" Mehmood asked.

The PTI leader reiterated his party's call for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down. "The prime minister's capacity to rule is diminished as he is now tainted," Mehmood said.

"It is strange that Nawaz Sharif did not know his children were becoming owners of companies abroad," Mehmood said.

"Nawaz Sharif was evasive and did not answer a lot of questions, saying that he did not remember what documents he provided," Mehmood claimed. "Shahbaz [Sharif] did the same."

"It is a matter of amazement that both their memories are so weak while they continue to hold important offices in the country," Mehmood said.

"It appears that everybody is part of a conspiracy against them, excluding Tanzania, Gabon and Costa Rica, if they are to be believed."

"All political parties are now joining hands to demand [the PM's] resignation," Mehmood warned.

"It is better if you resign with dignity."