The major opposition parties, PPP,PTI,JI, on Friday decided to confront the ruling party in the assembly and demand resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who according to them, has lost moral authority to rule the country after the Panama Papers verdict.
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), PPP and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) each held press conferences following a meeting of opposition parties in Islamabad.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan himself snubbed the huddle, heading over instead to the National Assembly (NA) where he announced his party's intent to hold a rally in the capital next week demanding the PM's resignation for the duration of the probe into the Sharif family's business dealings abroad.
Following the spate of critical opposition speeches, the PML-N appeared to be on the back foot as party leader Daniyal Aziz lashed out at opposition parties, saying that Maryam Nawaz's name had been cleared by the court in the Panamagate case.
Aziz also set his sights on Imran Khan, asking the PTI chief to issue a public denial that he hid his assets and engaged in tax evasion.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb called for caution in the aftermath of the verdict, saying agitation must be halted "otherwise incidents like Mardan and Sialkot will continue to happen".
Shah calls for postponing parliamentary sessions
A meeting of opposition parties chaired by PPP's Khursheed Shah and Aitzaz Ahsan discussed the ramifications of the SC verdict on Panamagate earlier today.
The opposition collectively decided to demand the PM's resignation and protest the matter in both the NA and Senate.
Opposition leader Khursheed Shah, while addressing the joint meeting, said: "Besides the government, every other party has understood the Panama case verdict."
"Today, the sessions of Parliament and Senate will be postponed indefinitely," Shah said, adding that opposition parties must vehemently protest in both the upper and lower houses of parliament.
'Soft hand on Sharifs': PPP rejects JIT
PPP lawmakers Aitzaz Ahsan and Khursheed Shah addressing a press conference following the meeting of opposition parties rejected the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the PM's family, claiming that the Sharifs have links with the Inter-Services Intelligence, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, and the State Bank of Pakistan.
"How can an employee fairly investigate his employer?" Shah asked.
"We always asked the PM to refrain from resigning [in the past] for the sake of democracy. We always stood by Nawaz Sharif in the name of democracy," he said.
Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said it was a custom of the SC to "keep a soft hand on the Sharifs", but noted that the majority judges had rejected a letter from a Qatari royal submitted as evidence by the PM's counsel.
He said the PPP rejects the formation of a JIT which would include people who favoured the ruling party.
The PPP also rejected the SC decision to clear Maryam Nawaz before the formation of the JIT.
In response to a question, he said the PPP would form a new strategy to force the prime minister to step down.
'You think you passed the exam?'
Awami Muslim League (AML) President Sheikh Rasheed called for all parties to create "a grand alliance" against the government.
"You failed in two subjects and failed to clear the other three, and you still think you passed the exam," Rasheed exclaimed.
"It doesn't make sense that you [the PML-N] are distributing sweets even after you've failed," he said.
JI calls for PM's resignation 'on moral grounds'
Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq called for the resignation of PM Nawaz Sharif "on moral grounds".
The JI chief framed the party's move against the sitting prime minister as part of its ongoing campaign against corruption.
"Nawaz's respect lies in resigning and conducting a free investigation into the case," he maintained.
"The SC verdict is not the destination, but a step forward towards success."
'Go Nawaz, go': lawmakers protest in parliament
Before the National Assembly session, the legal wizards of Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Aitzaz Ahsan and Farooq H Naek briefed a meeting of opposition parties on the verdict.
The meeting, chaired by Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah, was attended by almost all the parties including PTI that mulled the joint response to the government on Supreme Court decision.
Talking to media, Khursheed Shah said we don’t want to bulldoze the system but the prime minister has to go home. We reject the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), how can officers under the control of the prime minister can interrogate him, he asked.
Sheikh Rasheed said we are ready to fight the PML-N, both inside the Parliament and outside, the nation must get ready we will soon give a protest call.
Aitzaz pointed towards the dissenting notes of two senior judges of the apex court who declared that Nawaz Sharif was no more Sadiq and Ameen, hence disqualified to be the member of the august house.
Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbassi had to prorogued the session and adjourned it sine die after the rumpus created by the opposition.
As the session began, the Chair asked to take up the question hour business as per routine but Khursheed Shah took the floor and spoke about the verdict of apex court about panama papers case.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed asked to move a motion as per rules to suspend the question hour but Opposition's uproar did not allow him to table the motion.
The lawmakers gathered around the dais of the Speaker, hampering to take the routine business.
Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said that apex court in its verdict has directed to constitute a JIT, which is being termed by the opposition as `drama'.
Opposition should have one viewpoint on the decision and it should remember that the prime minister has the mandate of 200 million people, he added.
Following the protest and pandemonium of opposition, the Deputy Speaker announced to prorogued the session.
After months’ absence, Chairman PTI Imran Khan also attended the assembly session.
After the session was adjourned, Khursheed Shah spoke to reporters outside the Parliament.
He said the PPP rejects the formation of the JIT, saying the ruling family has links with the chiefs of the concerned departments.
‘We doubt the transparency of the JIT probe.’
The PPP has always stood by Nawaz Sharif for the sake of democracy but now we ask him to resign to save the system, he urged.
Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said the SC has always ‘kept a soft hand on the Sharifs’.
