Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Following the demand of resignation of the prime minister made by the opposition political parties in wake of the Supreme Court’s Panamagate judgment, the Supreme Court Bar and Lahore High Court Bar Associations (LHCBA) have joined in the demand and called for Nawaz Shareef to step down on Saturday.

Giving seven days ultimatum, the LHC Bar has demanded the premier to step down as two judges have noted the Prime Minister Nawaz Shareef was no more honest and trustworthy while others were not convinced with the evidences presented in his defense.

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.

Chaudhry stressed that if the prime minister does 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,” stated 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 is adamant to stay 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.

Bar Association Vice President Rashid Lodhi announced this case to be the biggest form of corruption. “This is the first time 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 stated.

He explained that 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 vice president also threatened government to start a movement against the prime minister if he did not step down within seven days. “The premier has been morally defeated in Panamagate case judgment and hence he should quit his office”, he demanded.

He urged lawyers of Pakistan Bar Council, Punjab Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar, and other associations to come forward and uphold democracy.

“An all Pakistan convention of lawyers will be held after seven days if our demand not met”, he added.

“The SC verdict has, in effect, indicted the prime minister,” said LHCBA Secretary Amir Saeed Raan stated.

“Two of the five judges have made it clear that the PM is not ‘Sadiq’ and ‘Ameen’,” he said. He added that the prime minister should have the courage to resign, instead of letting his own appointees investigate him for alleged corruption.

Supreme Court Bar President Rasheed A. Razvi backed the demand and expressed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has no moral ground to continue his office after the court verdict.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), PPP and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) have all demanded that the Prime Minister’s resignation until the JIT has completed its investigation.

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