Step down now or be removed, Imran to Nawaz

PTI leadership examines govt’s possible incursion of SC; Considers shifting focus towards next general elections

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that it is on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s discretion whether he steps down now or wants to be removed after being convicted.

“Sharif has no other option but to step down from his office,” the PTI chief said while addressing a consultative meeting of the party’s leadership after the Supreme Court on Friday reserved its verdict in the Panamagate case.



The meeting was also attended by Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid, besides members of PTI legal team, who informed the meeting about the possible outcome of the reserved verdict in coming days.

“The meeting concluded that the party should now shift its complete focus towards next general elections,” a senior party leader, who attended the meeting, said.

He said the leadership was optimistic that judgment in the case would be enough for the party to shape the campaign for next elections.

The party also deliberated over the option that PTI chief should undertake another round of mass contact drive soon after the announcement of verdict in the Panama case, he claimed.

“Panama’s political impacts and issues relating to upcoming political strategy of the PTI have been analysed in a detailed manner,” the PTI leader said.

He said the meeting also reviewed the intimidation of Premier Sharif and his government’s possible incursion of the apex court.



The leadership thoroughly examined Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s politics of confrontation and its impact on national politics, parliament and democracy, he said.

The meeting, held at the chairman’s secretariat, decided to counter every attempt of the PM and his aides aimed at impelling any kind of democratic, political or constitutional crisis.

The meeting also demanded of the Supreme Court to make public the 10^th Volume of the JIT report.

PTI leaders from Karachi and Lahore also participated in the meeting via video link.