Nawaz's days not over: PML-N after Pak SC disqualifies PM

In the wake of Pakistani Supreme Court's decision to disqualify Nawaz Sharif as the country's Prime Minister on Friday, ruling party Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) members expressed disappointment but also asserted that Sharif's days are not over.

This is a difficult time for the PML-N. But the power to make party decisions will remain with Nawaz Sharif", the Dawn quoted Punjab province Law Minister Rana Sanaullah as saying.

Pakistani Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said, "Nawaz does not need a chair, he is a reality. That day is not far, when he will be chosen for the fourth time"

"Some decisions happen in court, others in peoples courts. We may have lost one decision... which I am not surprised about but am saddened", she further said.

She also stated that the party would announce its plan after looking at the decision in detail.

Meanwhile, the Opposition party politicians expressed their elation over the Supreme Court's decision to disqualify Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for the role in the Panama Papers Leaks case, and took complete credit for the landmark judgement announced on Friday.

The apex court had on April 20 declared there was "insufficient evidence" to oust Sharif over the graft allegations engulfing his family, and ordered a six-member investigation team to probe the matter.The six-member team of civilian and military investigators appointed thereafter found there was a "significant disparity" between the Sharif family's income and lifestyle in its scathing report.

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, "It's a historic day, let's strengthen Pakistan, let's get rid of terrorism from the country. Let us take this moment to express gratitude to the armed forces, police and other law enforcement agencies. We should also thank the JIT members for not succumbing to the enormous pressure and serving the cause of justice."

Pakistan People's Party leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said, "The judgement came it was expected. It was on the cards for long." All the opposition parties played their part in this, but the credit does go to PTI and Imran Khan for taking this issue to court and fighting this long legal battle.

The Supreme Court on Friday disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from holding public office in a landmark decision on the Panama Papers case.

Friday's decision means that this was the third time Prime Minister Sharif was unable to complete his term in office.