Pakistan's top court, on 28 July, disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from office after a damning corruption probe into his family wealth, cutting short his third stint in power.
The Supreme Court dismissed Sharif after an investigative panel alleged his family could not account for its vast wealth. The court also ordered a criminal investigation against the premier and his family.
His ruling PML-N party, which has a majority in the parliament, is now expected to appoint a new prime minister. Could Sharif’s younger brother be a possible candidate?
Since Shehbaz, Sharif's younger brother and the Chief Minister of Punjab province, is not a member of the National Assembly – the lower house of the Parliament – he cannot succeed immediately and would have to contest elections.
Therefore, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif will most likely become the interim prime minister for 45 days, till Shehbaz is elected in by-polls, reported Geo News, citing sources. The news outlet said these decisions were taken in a high-level huddle of ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz earlier in July.
It had also been decided during the meeting that the party will utilise all legal and constitutional options available if the verdict goes against the premier.
The meeting, chaired by Sharif, was also attended by Shehbaz along with federal ministers, advisers and the legal team representing the Sharif family in the Panama Papers case.
Pakistan Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf announced soon after the apex court’s verdict that Sharif has been “disqualified for life.”
(With inputs from PTI and Reuters.)
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