Panama verdict: LHCBA demands PM to quit in a week

LAHORE: After the Supreme Court ruling on Panama Papers case, the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) on Saturday gave one-week deadline to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down or face lawyers' movement, bigger than the one that followed ex-chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry's ouster in 2007.

LHCBA President Zulfiqar Chaudhry, Vice-President Rashid Lodhi, Secretary Amir Saeed Raan and Finance Secretary Zaheer Butt presented their demand for the PM's resignation at a press conference.

Zulfiqar Chaudhry stressed that if the prime minister did not relinquish his post within a week, they will launch a movement bigger than the lawyers' movement for restoration of the deposed judges.

"The [Panama Papers case] decision is unanimous," said Chaudhry, referring to Thursday's verdict.

"Throughout the world, public office-holders implicated in the Panama [Papers] scandal have relinquished their posts, but the prime minister insists on staying in power," he complained, emphasising that the bar association's demand for PM's resignation was legitimate and fair.

"How can officers under the PM conduct a fair investigation into the PM's alleged corruption?" asked Chaudhry.

LHCBA Vice-President Rashid Lodhi said: "This is for the first time that such a high-profile case of corruption went up to the Supreme Court and some pertinent questions were raised by the court regarding the PM's money-trail. These questions cannot be put ignored."

He said the apex court has rejected the prime minister's claims, and for that reason, Sharif has lost the moral authority to stay in power. "The SC verdict has, in effect, indicted the prime minister," said Amir Saeed Raan, secretary of the LHCBA.

"Two of the five judges have made it clear that the PM is not 'Sadiq' and 'Ameen'," he stated, adding that the prime minister should have the courage to resign, instead of letting his own appointees investigate him for alleged corruption.

The legal fraternity in Pakistan flexed its muscles back in 2007, when ex-president Pervez Musharraf ousted the then chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. The lawyers' movement that followed, gained enough momentum to result in the reinstatement of the deposed judiciary.

The LHCBA representatives stressed that their demand must not be seen as to be politically motivated.