Opposition party politicians were elated as the Supreme Court disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a landmark decision on the Panama Papers case Friday.
The apex court had in April declared there was “insufficient evidence” to oust Sharif over the graft allegations engulfing his family, and ordered a six-member investigation team to probe the matter.
The team of civilian and military investigators found there was a “significant disparity” between the Sharif family's income and lifestyle in its scathing report.
Here's how politicians reacted:
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari
The PPP chairman welcomed the disqualification of the prime minister and said that his party was well prepared to handle all possible situations, including midterm elections.
The decision is in favour of the people and it is a victory for the country, he added.
Bilawal claimed that the PPP was the first party to take up the issue of the prime minister's disqualification. "We highlighted the issue on April 4 in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh," he said, adding that the party leaders thought that parliament would legislate in this regard.
He said that PPP was in consultation with other parties after which a candidate would be nominated for the premiership.
PTI's Shah Mehmood Qureshi
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi while addressing the press soon after the judgement, said: “It’s a historic day, let's strengthen Pakistan, let's get rid of terrorism from the country. Let us take this moment to express gratitude to the armed forces, police and other law enforcement agencies. We should also thank the JIT members for not succumbing to the enormous pressure and serving the cause of justice.”
PPP's Qamar Zaman Kaira
PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said: “The judgement came it was expected. It was on the cards for long. All the opposition parties played their part in this, but the credit does go to PTI and Imran Khan for taking this issue to court and fighting this long legal battle."
PTI's Jehangir Tareen
Prominent PTI leader Tareen said, "Real Justice has been served. History has been written. People had lost hope that accountability will ever happen but Imran was the only person who believed and today's decision is a victory for PTI and the nation."
"We are going to Bani Gala where we will pray shukrana (thanksgiving) prayers. We will keep playing our part for Pakistan and democracy. This is the best time for democracy. I congratulate everyone."
JI's Siraj ul Haq
The leader of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Sirajul Haq said, "We are very weak but on August 24, 2016, I became the first petitioner. People made fun of me but today we are leaving with success in the Supreme Court. I want to congratulate the apex court, journalists, lawyers and political workers who supported us."
"After me, other political parties also came forward and stood with us, I want to thank them all."
