PML-N’s consultative meeting decides PM Sharif to stay in office

ISLAMABAD: The high-profile meeting of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders at PM House ended with a decision that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would not tender his resignation following the Supreme Court on Friday reserved its verdict in Panama Papers case.

The premier convened a meeting with senior leaders of the ruling party including Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif, federal ministers and legal advisers to mull over the latest developments in the Panamagate case after the apex court reserved a verdict in the case.

According to sources, the participants expressed their confidence in PM Nawaz Sharif and agreed that the premier should not resign. However, the party leadership affirmed accepting the apex court’s judgment in the case.

The Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali was conspicuous for his absence in the meeting, sources said. The minister was reportedly present in the Punjab House where he was dealing with ‘routine official work’.

While addressing the meeting, PM Nawaz claimed that certain people are day-dreaming of coming to power through undemocratic means.

He accused some elements, without referring name of any politician or political party, creating hurdles in the way of country’s progress and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under PML-N government.

The meeting was convened after the apex court reserved its judgment. The three-member Panamagate implementation bench observed that matters pertaining to the PM’s disqualification would be evaluated.

Hearing the arguments from both the sides – government counsel and the opposition disputing prime minister’s claims in the case – the bench concluded its fifth and final hearing on Friday (yesterday).

During the hearing session, the bench directed for the production of Volume X of the JIT report while Justice Azmat observing that they will also make the content of Volume X public as the top court intends to keep everything transparent.

The date for announcement of the verdict will be released later.