Opposition unanimous in demanding Nawaz resignation

ISLAMABAD: The major opposition parties on Friday decided to confront the ruling party in the assembly and demand resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who according to them, has lost moral authority to rule the country after the Panama Papers verdict.

Before the National Assembly session, the legal wizards of Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Aitzaz Ahsan and Farooq H Naek briefed a meeting of opposition parties on the verdict.

The meeting, chaired by Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah, was attended by almost all the parties including PTI that mulled the joint response to the government on Supreme Court decision. 

Talking to media, Khursheed Shah said we don’t want to bulldoze the system but the prime minister has to go home. We reject the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), how can officers under the control of the prime minister can interrogate him, he asked.

Sheikh Rasheed said we are ready to fight the PML-N, both inside the Parliament and outside, the nation must get ready we will soon give a protest call.

Aitzaz pointed towards the dissenting notes of two senior judges of the apex court who declared that Nawaz Sharif was no more Sadiq and Ameen, hence disqualified to be the member of the august house.

Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbassi had to prorogued the session and adjourned it sine die after the rumpus created by the opposition.

As the session began, the Chair asked to take up the question hour business as per routine but Khursheed Shah took the floor and spoke about the verdict of apex court about panama papers case.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed asked to move a motion as per rules to suspend the question hour but Opposition's uproar did not allow him to table the motion.

The lawmakers gathered around the dais of the Speaker, hampering to take the routine business.

Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said that apex court in its verdict has directed to constitute a JIT, which is being termed by the opposition as `drama'.

Opposition should have one viewpoint on the decision and it should remember that the prime minister has the mandate of 200 million people, he added.

Following the protest and pandemonium of opposition, the Deputy Speaker announced to prorogued the session.

After months’ absence, Chairman PTI Imran Khan also attended the assembly session.

After the session was adjourned, Khursheed Shah spoke to reporters outside the Parliament.

He said the PPP rejects the formation of the JIT, saying the ruling family has links with the chiefs of the concerned departments.

‘We doubt the transparency of the JIT probe.’

The PPP has always stood by Nawaz Sharif for the sake of democracy but now we ask him to resign to save the system, he urged.

Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said the SC has always ‘kept a soft hand on the Sharifs’.