Panamagate: Step down today with integrity, Khurshid Shah tells Nawaz

Opposition Leader in NA says assemblies and the Parliament must continue functioning and complete their tenure

A day after the top court reserved its verdict in the Panamagate case, Opposition Leader in National Assembly Khurshid Shah has advised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to "step down with integrity today."

"If you want to resign with integrity, do it by tonight," Shah advised the premier while addressing media in Sukkur on Saturday afternoon. "Nawaz should step down to face the cases of corruption."

The third round of the Panamagate case – revolving around the offshore properties of the ruling Sharif family – concluded on Friday as a three-judge bench of the apex court reserved its judgment after five days of hearing.

Noting that the premier had been "speaking against the institutions," Shah asked him to "instead take them into confidence."



He made it clear that Pakistan People's Party (PPP) was not demanding that the assemblies be dissolved. "We want the assemblies and the Parliament to continue functioning and complete their tenure."

"PM Nawaz needs to ponder upon the situation sagaciously," Shah said and added, "we are trying to save the Parliament."

Shah went on to add that there is no more time for a "bargaining", saying the Panama leaks case had proved to be an open testimony [against the government].

'Nation awaiting top court's verdict'

Meanwhile, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said he is hopeful to receive justice from the Supreme Court in the case. "The JIT report proved Sharif family's involvement in corruption," he told journalists after inaugurating the Drig road underpass in Karachi.

"We hope that those involved in corruption will not be spared," he added.

On July 10, the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted by the top court concluded that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif “is in possession of assets beyond known sources of income.”

The report suggested that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) should open a ‘reference’ or case against members of the Sharif family.