NOWSHERA: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said on Friday the verdict of the Supreme Court against Sharif family in the Panama Papers Case was the first step towards making a new and corruption-free Pakistan.
Speaking at separate events in Azakhel Payan here, he said the accountability of the corrupt was much needed.
Activists of other political parties announced joining the PTI on the occasion.
The chief minister hailed the Supreme Court verdict and termed it historic which, he said, would be remembered for decades to come.
Pervez Khattak said a unanimous decision of the five members Supreme Court bench had proved the corruption of the Sharif family and that was why Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was sent packing home.
He said that the accountability of a mighty family was a great success and a good omen. “This decision has paved the way for the accountability of other corrupt politicians and those who considered themselves beyond the reach of justice,” he added.
He said the process should not stop here and other corrupt should also be grilled and dealt with an iron hand.
“The credit for accountability of Nawaz Sharif goes to the PTI chief Imran Khan,” he added.
The chief minister said that 24-year long struggle of Imran Khan finally started paying off and accountability of the corrupt had been started in the country.
“The foundation for a new Pakistan has been laid in a real sense,” he added.
Criticising the Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) for what he argued supporting the corrupt ruling elite, he said Maulana Fazlur Rehman should get the message from the court verdict that the process of accountability had been started and any corrupt would not escape the justice.
Pervez Khattak said that the corrupt leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and ANP should also be held accountable for their wrongdoings after the accountability of the Sharif family.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information and Public Health Engineering Shah Farmantermed the Supreme Court’s decision as victory of “justice” and said it would bring real change in the country.
In a statement issued here, he said it was for the first time in the history of the country the judiciary had declared a prime minister disqualified, giving out a strong message to all that nobody is above the law. “The judges of Supreme Court deserve appreciation for giving an unprecedented historic verdict in Panama case,” he said in the statement.
Our correspondent in Nowshera adds: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) chief Maulana Samiul Haq on Friday said the Supreme Court verdict in the Panama Leaks case was based on merit.
Talking to The News, Maulana Samiul Haq said the verdict reflected the aspiration of people and would be remembered in country’s history.
He said that this was a divine justice. He said that Nawaz Sharif’s downfall started when he announced to make the country liberal and hanged Mumtaz Qadri, the killer of Salmaan Taseer, the former governor of Punjab.
Maulana Samiul Haq said the verdict of the Supreme Court in the case had changed the course of the country’s history and it was a victory of the nation. “Holding accountable a powerful prime minister is the victory of the justice and people,” he added.
He said that the process should not be stopped here and all those involved in corruption should be treated in the same manner.
He said the courts should hand down exemplary punishment to Nawaz Sharif after he was proved guilty.
“Nawaz Sharif’s hands should be chopped off so that no other person could dare commit corruption in future,” he added.
He appreciated the work done by the Joint Investigation Team and decision of the five-member Supreme Court bench in the case and announced his support to the court in this regard.
Our Peshawar Bureau adds: Terming the verdict of the Supreme Court on Panama Papers historic, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chairman Aftab Sherpao said on Friday that the judgment should be accepted as it had changed the course of the country’s political history.
However, he called for the continuity of the political process so that democracy could flourish. He was speaking at a press conference at his party’s secretariat.
On the occasion, Arshad Khan and Saeedullah of Awami National Party and Zakirullah Shinwari of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announced joining the QWP.
Aftab Sherpao hoped there would be no confrontation in the wake of the Panama Papers judgment.
He said the new prime minister would be chosen and the National Assembly would complete its tenure. “We support democracy and want the completion of the constitutional term of the Parliament,” he declared.
He called for strengthening democratic institutions and termed these instrumental in bringing political stability and financial prosperity.
The QWP leader regretted that the issues being faced by the Pakhtuns couldn’t be resolved and it had increased sense of deprivation among them. “We will spare no effort to raise voice for the rights of the Pakhtuns, who have been exposed to a host of problems,” he added.
He said the Pakhtuns had rendered matchless sacrifices for the restoration of peace so they should be compensated for their loss.