SC accepts JI’s petition seeking disqualification of PM

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A view of Supreme Court building in Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday accepted Jamaat-e-Islami’s  petition seeking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

The apex court has issued notices to all the respondents, directing them to submit their responses.

During the hearing of Panama Papers case today (Wednesday), Justice Asif Saeed Khosa remarked that Jamaat-e-Islami’s lawyer will continue his arguments after conclusion of arguments by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan.

Talking to media persons outside the Supreme Court, JI chief Sirajul Haq said they want accountability to begin from Prime Minister and his family.

“We want everyone’s accountability beginning with Prime Minister and his family.All those whose names have appeared in Panamapapers must be made accountable.  ,” he added.

Sirajul Haq further stressed that his party’s basic aim is to eliminate corruption from the country.He said Pakistan cannot move ahead without eliminating corruption  as the JI wants an end of corruption and a clean and green Pakistan.

In its petition, the party had alleged that the Prime Minister had intentionally concealed property owned by him outside Pakistan, particularly in London, as a result whereof he evaded taxes.

“Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan has lost his eligibility as Member of National Assembly under Article 62 (1) (f) because the information in Panama leak in shape of four flats bearing numbers as 16, 16-A, 17, 17-A, Park Lane, Mayfair, London, was never mention by him in his nomination papers in Election 2013, Income Tax Statements and Wealth Tax Statements, which he admitted in his speech, therefore, he remained no more Sadiq or Ameen,” the petition stated.