PML-N suffers throes of uncertainty after court verdict reserved

KARACHI: In the aftermath of the Supreme Court reserves its verdict of the Panama Papers Case, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) experiencing a turmoil in its ranks.

The party’s stronghold Lahore sees emergence of banners advising Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down and vacant the top seat for his brother and Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.

The ruling party witnessing fissures in its ranks at the high level with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali’s disapproval of the government’s tackling of the Panama Papers case and the party leaders’ statements against the state institutions.

The party leadership struggling to appease estranged Chaudhry Nisar to avoid chaos within the party.

Banners in favour of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif seeking back of Nawaz Sharif put up at various places in Lahore.

Opposition parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Jamaat-i-Islami and others pressing Nawaz Sharif to resign and nominate anyone from his party to replace him as he has lost legal and ethical mandate to continue to his office in the wake of Panama Papers case.

After a three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan reserved its verdict in the Panama Papers case on Friday, speculations have been rife that the ruling party is shortlisting the candidates for the slot of prime minister in case Nawaz Sharif is disqualified.

The names of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi are doing the rounds for the interim PM slot for 45 days till Shahbaz Sharif is elected on a National Assembly seat to lead the government for the remaining term.