Pakistan’s top court rejects ex-PM's appeal against ousting

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Pakistan's top court on Friday dismissed appeal by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif against his removal over corruption in July this year, lawyers said.

After an investigation into the Sharif family's wealth, the Supreme Court employed a little-used constitutional provision to rule Sharif unfit to hold office because he did not declare a small source of income, which he has disputed receiving.

The country's top court also disqualified three of Sharif's children, including heir-apparent Maryam and her husband, besides ordering a criminal investigation into the Sharifs and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who has stayed in his post.

A Pakistani policeman rides past the Supreme Court building in Islamabad on September 15, 2017. /AFP Photo‍

On Friday, a five-judge bench dismissed the petitions filed by the Sharifs and Dar, without specifying reasons.

"All the review petitions stand dismissed," said Asif Saeed Khosa, who headed the bench, which is expected to provide the reasons for its decision next week.

Salman Akram Raja, one of the members of the Sharif family's legal team, said most of the review petitions are usually rejected, but "there was a chance in this petition but we will make a decision after the detailed verdict is announced."

Senior lawyer Barrister Zafarullah, another defense lawyer of Nawaz Sharif, told the media that Nawaz Sharif showed respect for the judiciary and personally appeared before the courts and a joint investigation team that was formed to hold investigation.

Ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gestures as he addresses supporters at a rally after reaching his home city of Lahore on August 12, 2017. /AFP Photo

The latest ruling comes days ahead of a by-election to fill Sharif's parliamentary seat in his hometown Lahore, which is being contested by his wife Kalsum, who is being treated for throat cancer in London.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency