Sharif's disqualification as PM 'uncontroversial': Pak SC

Pakistan's Supreme Court today said the disqualification of prime minister Nawaz Sharif was "uncontroversial" as it issued a detailed verdict rejecting review petitions filed by the Sharif family in the Panama Papers case.
The apex court had issued a short-order on September 15 rejecting the review petitions of the Sharif family and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar against the July 28 verdict.
Sharif, 67, had to step down after he was disqualified as the prime minister by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers scandal.
In its detailed verdict, the apex court observed that no error has been identified in the Panama case, which could be reviewed and the accountability court is free to make a decision on the basis of nature of evidence, Geo TV reported.

"The facts about disqualification of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister were uncontroversial," the apex court observed in its verdict, maintaining that it could not be said the decision surprised Sharif.
It said the trial court has the authority to reject weak evidence.

"The accountability court is free to review evidence in accordance with the law," the 23-page verdict stated.
The directions to finish the trial in six months are not meant for influencing the trial court, but for early completion of the trial.
The court also addressed the appointment of a Supreme Court judge to supervise the trial. It said that appointing a supervising judge is not a new thing; the measure is taken to avoid any negligence during the trial.

Three cases were registered by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Sharif, his children and son-in-law in the court on September 8.
If convicted, Sharif can be jailed.
Commenting on the apex court's verdict, Sharif's daughter and PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz said that the law and justice are embarrassed.
"That's exactly how minority brings a bad name to the majority! Victim is not Nawaz Sharif but justice itself!," she said.
"This decision could only be under immense pressure otherwise such travesty of justice is unimaginable," she said in a series of tweets.
Referring to the inclusion of her name, she alleged she was being avenged as she spoke up against injustice.

Maryam said it was vendetta as before her name was not included in the verdict issued earlier.
She further said that this was the sixth decision in the same case and added that the decision was given on the same day when those who lost politically to Sharif were asked to file a petition which could not be heard in the court.
The political future of Sharif, who leads the country's most powerful political family and the ruling PML-N party, has been hanging in balance since the July 28 verdict.
Sharif's family alleges that the cases are politically motivated.