Rivals will have to 'wait until 2018 or even beyond': Nawaz Sharif

He further said that the people of Pakistan will continue to support him as they support progress and not anarchy

Taking a jibe at political parties who have called on him to step down in the wake of Panama Papers leak case, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has asked his rivals to "wait until 2018 or even beyond because the people of Pakistan support progress and not anarchy".

"I've ordered a judicial inquiry to clear the matter once and for all. I'll continue to serve the masses after the inquiry clears me of all baseless charges," the Express Tribune quoted him, as saying while speaking at the launch of the National Health Programme in Quetta yesterday.

His remarks comes a day after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said 'Mian Sahib' would not only have to quit but go to prison if proven guilty in the Panama Papers inquiry.

Without naming the PTI chief, Sharif criticised the politics of agitation.

"Our government is committed to changing the political culture of Pakistan - from one of confrontation to that of serving the masses," he said.

Apart from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Rabita Committee, which is the third largest opposition party in parliament has also demanded Sharif's resignation.

Sharif said that his administration was working towards a transparent and corruption-free system in the country.

"Not a penny of corruption has ever been established against our government, neither in the present nor in the previous two tenures," he said.

He appreciated Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri who had warned political opponents of the Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) of a befitting reply, if they do not cease from hatching conspiracies.

He endorsed the views of Zehri who said his political opponents need to wait patiently until 2018 or even beyond because the people of Pakistan supported progress and development undertaken by the PML-N government.

A massive leak of 11.5 million tax documents on April 3 revealed secret offshore dealings of world leaders and celebrities, including three of his children for owning London real estate through offshore companies.

The leaks revealed that three of his children own offshore companies - identified as three British Virgin Islands-based companies Nescoll Ltd, Nielsen Enterprises Ltd and Hangon Property Holdings Ltd, incorporated in 1993, 1994 and 2007 respectively - and assets not shown on his family's wealth statement.