LAHORE: Some legal experts see no flaw in the Supreme Court’s verdict of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification and believe there is little chance of any relief if a review of Panama Papers case judgment is sought by the Sharif family.

Rejecting an impression that the Supreme Court heard the petitions on Panama Papers case in an unprecedented manner and without its jurisdiction, Advocate Ijaz Awan says the Supreme Court Rules provide its judges inherent powers to take up any matter on its own or on filing any application for the ends of justice.

He says the apex court decided the case in the light of what is written in Article 62 of the Constitution and Representation of Peoples Act 1976. He believes that the judges had no choice but to disqualify the prime minister and others as they failed to establish their innocence despite repeated opportunity given to them by the court.

Mr Awan is of the view that Mr Sharif has to live with disqualification now as there appears to be no chance of relief in review petition.

Advocate Qazi Mobeen states that Mr Sharif cannot get his disqualification revoked even if trial court finds him innocent in references to be filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He says the disqualification verdict is correct in the eye of law as the Sharif family miserably failed to produce any tangible evidence in support of their innocence. He also sees weaknesses in the legal position taken by the Sharif family before the court.

Advocate A.K Dogar says though Sharif family can seek review of the case, it has no right to file an appeal against the disqualification verdict. He argues that any law which does not provide right to appeal is contrary to Islamic injunctions. He says the Supreme Court in many of its judgments has already declared this fact.

Asma Jehangir tweeted: “Even if it goes for only a trial or nothing then how five-member bench when two judges never heard part of the case. Beyond sense for most.”

jubilation: There were scenes of jubilation among lawyers of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) on Friday the moment the news of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification was aired on television channels.

A large number of charged lawyers already gathered round the television screen in Kiyani Hall of the Bar were eagerly waiting for the news about the Supreme Court verdict in Panama Papers case.

As the disqualification decision was broadcasted, the lawyers started chanting slogans against Nawaz Sharif in triumph and congratulated each other. They took out a thanksgiving rally at GPO Chowk on The Mall and stayed there for half an hour. The lawyers also distributed sweets among passersby calling the disqualification of the Nawaz Sharif a historic decision by the top court of the country. Lawyers showered rose petals on their leaders and danced to drum beat to express their joy.

Later, at a joint press conference, office bearers of the Supreme Court Bar Association and the LHCBA said they were the first to demand resignation from the prime minister but he did not do so and ultimately faced disqualification.

LHCBA President Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali said he saluted the Supreme Court for delivering the historic decision that, what they believed, would definitely lead to the elimination of corruption from the country. He demanded accountability of all the named in the Panama Papers and placing of their names on exit control list. Other leaders said the verdict had proved that the whole Sharif family was corrupt and thief.

SCBA Secretary Aftab Bajwa said the lawyers always wanted the supremacy of law and the Constitution and they would stand by the Supreme Court even if it disqualified PTI Chairman Imran Khan or any other political leader.

Pakistan Bar Council Vice-Chairman Ahsan Bhoon also welcomed the decision, saying that the verdict of the apex court would go a long way in the history of the country and contribute a lot in strengthening democratic system free from malpractices and corruption.

He also praised the Supreme Court judges for unanimously giving the decision against a sitting prime minister for the first time in country’s history. He said whole legal fraternity rightfully took pride in independence of present judiciary and its functioning without fear and favour in accordance with the Constitution.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2017