Twitter goes into a tizzy after PM Sharif steps down over Panama verdict

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigned after he got an unfavourable verdict from the country’s Supreme Court in the Panama Papers leaks. The Pakistan Supreme Court disqualified Sharif from holding public office, contesting elections and ruled that graft cases be filed against him and his children over the Panama Papers scandal. 
 

The court disqualified Sharif under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution. The articles state that a Member of Parliament should be "truthful" and "righteous". The unanimous verdict was read out by the five-judge bench including Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan inside the packed courtroom 1 of the Supreme Court. It is the third time that Sharif’s term as premier has been cut short. 
 

The ruling came after a probe into the Sharif family’s wealth following the 2015 Panama Papers scandal linking Sharif’s children to offshore companies. The court has ordered further probes and anti-corruption cases against Sharif’s daughter, son-in-law, finance minister of the country and others.
 

 Sharif’s expulsion is likely to cause political turbulence in Pakistan as his party will have to find someone to hold office until next year’s elections. The much-awaited verdict has rushed Pakistan into a political crisis at a time when the country is already facing a stiff economy.
 

After the verdict came out, social media could not stop from reacting. The #PanamaVerdict was the top trending hashtag worldwide on Twitter. Some of the top trends worldwide on Twitter were related to Pakistan that included Nawaz Sharif, Gone Nawaz Gone, Pakistan’s Supreme Court and Panama Papers.
 

Twitter users treated the news with flippancy. While some hailed the verdict, others discussed the complications of the verdict. There were also jokes on Twitter with links to Indian politics.
 

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the verdict:
 

i dont know much about politics but i believe what happens now is nawaz sharif will get sworn back in tomorrow but as a bjp ally

— Rega Jha (@RegaJha) July 28, 2017

#PanamaVerdict Nawaz Sharif https://t.co/X0VBAg5at1 via @GIPHY pic.twitter.com/CREINaoFE0

— Ian Pont (@Ponty100mph) July 28, 2017

- this relief is only and only because of Imran Khan! Rest are just relo kattay! #PanamaVerdict

— Asif Khan (@mak_asif) July 28, 2017

Amit Shah is just few phone calls away from making government in Pakistan.#PanamaVerdict #NawazSharif

— TheFrustratedIndian (@FrustIndian) July 28, 2017

Pic 1: Zardari
Pic 2: Imran Khan
Pic 3: Nawaz Sharif pic.twitter.com/T2DvV1ojlS

— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) July 28, 2017

Nawaz Sharif right now: pic.twitter.com/NvLyPJxdyN

— Rana Hamad. (@ranahamad315) July 28, 2017

We welcome Mr.Sharif to India to become GST and Swachh Bharat brand ambassador. https://t.co/EJlIL6Dpjr

— Rofl Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) July 28, 2017

#GST @SrBachchan  pic.twitter.com/VqfzuTJEGv

— Rofl Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) June 28, 2017

"Hum yahaan haare huye states jeet rahe hain, tu jeeta hua haar gaya?" pic.twitter.com/iRzPnxbbyc

— Aisi Taisi Democracy (@AisiTaisiDemo) July 28, 2017

"So you see that's where the trouble started. That smile. That damned smile." -Nawaz Sharif (13 Reasons Why I Got Disqualified) pic.twitter.com/z18GipF4cV

— Hifza Khan (@hifzakhann) July 28, 2017

Nawaz Sharif to whole nation: pic.twitter.com/TdOBUPfBBa

— Gone Nawaz Gone (@myaseenayub) July 28, 2017

How dare the SC of Pakistan disqualify Nawaz Sharif as the PM?

Only Arnab Goswami has these powers! #PanamaVerdict

— Atul Khatri (@one_by_two) July 28, 2017

Hatts off to Kaptaan @ImranKhanPTI
You made history, Pakistan Nation loves u 4 ur unprecedented services 4 us #PanamaVerdict #انصاف_کی_جیت pic.twitter.com/Q7mqCH02r7

— ємααη нαι∂єя