Page 17 - 072817

Groton Daily Independent
Friday, July 28, 2017 ~ Vol. 25 - No. 028 ~ 17 of 54
Pakistani court disquali es PM on allegation of corruption By MUNIR AHMED and ZARAR KHAN, Associated Press
ISLAMABAD (AP) — A ve-judge panel of Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Friday disquali ed thrice-elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from holding of ce over allegations of corruption against him and his family. The court in a unanimous decision said Sharif was disquali ed for not remaining “truthful and honest” after considering evidence against him. It also ruled Sharif could no longer serve as a member of the
National Assembly, a powerful lower house of the parliament.
General elections are to be held in Pakistan next year and the Supreme Court ruling ensures he won’t
be in the running.
The court asked the Election Commission of Pakistan to issue noti cation of Sharif’s removal. But Sharif
quickly stepped down, saying he did it to show his respect for the country’s judiciary.
Sharif’s resignation created a murky legal mess with constitutional experts at a loss to explain who is in charge in Pakistan until his successor is nominated. It wasn’t immediately clear when that would be or
who it would be.
The court also directed the country’s anti-corruption body to le corruption charges against Sharif, his
two sons and daughter in the next six weeks for concealing their assets.
Sharif’s party expressed its disappointment over the court order.
“This decision is not surprising but we are disappointed,” Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb told
reporters shortly after the ruling. She said their Pakistan Muslim League ruling party will issue a detailed reaction after consulting Sharif’s advisers.
Legal experts say Sharif will now nominate a lawmaker of his choice to replace him under the provisions of the constitution. They say Sharif’s nominee would be elected by the National Assembly, where the rul- ing party enjoys majority.
“The Supreme Court has disquali ed Nawaz Sharif for concealing his assets,” Hashmat Habib, a legal expert said. He said the court’s order was binding and Sharif and his family may not challenge it.
It was not the rst time the judiciary has ordered the dismissal of an elected prime minister. In 2012, the court convicted the then-Premier Yusuf Raza Gilani in a contempt case, forcing him to step down.
The current case against Sharif and his family dates back to 2016, when documents leaked from a Panama-based law rm indicated that Sharif’s sons owned several offshore companies.
Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz at the time acknowledged owning offshore companies but insisted they used legal money to set up businesses abroad.
However, the court-appointed investigators in July concluded a signi cant disparity existed between the Sharif family’s declared wealth and its known sources of income.
Opposition lawmakers, who petitioned the court for disquali cation of Sharif, welcomed the court deci- sion, saying it was a victory for justice.
Sirajul Haq, who heads Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami party, told reporters that he had been ghting a legal battle to ensure the accountability of the “corrupt ruling elite.”
‘Obamacare’ repeal reeling after Senate defeat By ERICA WERNER and ALAN FRAM, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dealing a serious blow to President Donald Trump’s agenda, the Senate early Fri- day rejected a measure to repeal parts of former President Barack Obama’s health care law after a night of high suspense in the U.S. Capitol.
Unable to pass even a so-called “skinny repeal,” it was unclear if Senate Republicans could advance any health bill despite seven years of promises to repeal “Obamacare.”
“This is clearly a disappointing moment,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “I regret that our efforts were not enough, this time.”
“It’s time to move on,” he said. The vote was 49-51 with three Republicans joining all Democrats in vot- ing ‘no.’