Giving major relief to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's Supreme Court has clearly said that there was insufficient evidence to order his removal from office.
However, the Court has ordered further probe into the corruption allegations levelled by the opposition based on Panama Paper leaks against the Sharif family.
Highlights of the SC verdict in Panamagate:
1. The Supreme Court has ordered further investigations into corruption allegations against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
2. Has refused to order his removal from office, saying there was insufficient evidence.
3. The apex court has ordered the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to carry out further investigation.
4. The JIT will investigate how the funds were transferred to Qatar.
5. The committee comprising of one senior official each from the FIA, NAB, SECP, SBP, ISI and MI will be tasked to probe the assets.
6. The apex court has ordered the JIT to present its report every two weeks before a Supreme Court bench.
7. The court also ordered Sharif and his sons Hasan and Hussein to appear before the JIT as and when required.
8. The apex court's detailed decision comprised a total of 540 pages.
9. The apex verdict split 3-2 between the five-member benches.
10. Two dissenting judges were of the opinion that Sharif was dishonest to the nation and should have been disqualified.
11. The Chief Justice said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman had failed to carry out his duties.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)