2:55 – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Arif Alvi expressed his happiness in a very emotional manner, saying that “Nawaz Sharif has gone.”

2:50 – Reacting to the ruling, Khawaja Saad Rafique said the formation of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) is a victory of the stance of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Khawaja Asif called upon others petitioners including Imran Khan Siraj-ul-Haq to respect the judicial verdict.

“We are ready for all kinds of investigation but the judgement establishes that all proofs presented in the court were inadequate,” said Khawaja Asif.

2:45 – PML-N leaders including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Railway Minister Saad Rafique and Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal spoke to media outside the court and reacted over the decision.

“Two of the bench judges have not declared him Sadiq and Ameen… He must step down,” Imran Khan said. “He has lost the moral reason to stay in the office, and also the investigation team can’t work freely in his presence.”

2:40 – Imran Khan urges PM to step down after remarks by two judges.

2:35 – The Prime Minister is likely to address the nation on television this evening at 7:00pm.

2:30 – Maryam Nawaz Sharif reacted over the ruling, expressing her happiness.

“Praise & glory be to Allah alone. Shukrana & mubariks… Mubarik ! Wazir-e-Azam Nawaz Sharif ….. Alhamdolillahi Rab-al-Aalameen,” Maryam said on Twitter.

Praise & glory be to Allah alone. Shukrana & mubariks 😍 pic.twitter.com/yM92bIJJoc — Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 20, 2017

2:20 – A reference against PM can also be filed if required, SC said.

The JIT will be formed within seven days.

Officials of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SICP) and NAB will also be in the proble team.

Officials of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), ISI and MI will also be part of the investigation team.

The JIT will comprise of a senior official of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) having a post equal to Additional Director General.

2:15 – The court has tasked FIA with finding answers of key questions: How the money was transferred to Qatar? How the Gulf Steel Mills was set up and how it was sold? What about the Sale Deed? Where the money came from for Flag Ship?

2:15 – In a blow to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the SC has ordered him to face the investigation commission.

2:12 – In its historic ruling, the Supreme Court has ordered constitution of a joint investigation commission to probe into the alleged offshore assets of Sharif Family, directing the panel to conclude the investigation within two months.

The Election Commission should de-notify the PM: Dissent note

2:10 – The PM is no more ‘Sadiq’ and ‘Ameen’: said the judges in dissent note, rejecting statements of the PM’s children.

2:10 – It’s an split decision as two of judges out of five-member bench – Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Gulzar – opposed the ruling with dissent note .

2:05 – Supreme Court announcing Panama case ruling. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa reading out the judgement of 540 pages.

2:00 – Politicians reach Supreme Court to attend announcement of Panama Case ruling.

01:00 – PML-N senator Nehal Hashmi claims that there is not possibility of midterm elections in the country in the wake of Panama Papers decision.

01:00 – PML-N senator Nehal Hashmi claims that there is not possibility of midterm elections in the country in the wake of Panama Papers decision.



12:40 – Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq says the SC ruling will end corruption in the country.

“It will be corruption’s death after Supreme Court’s ruling. Whatever the decision came, it will wake up the nation and rise political temperature.

12:35 – Maryam Orangzeb says the PM will win the case. “The law and constitution will be victorious today…,” she said, adding that placing banners ‘is our right.’

12:30 – PML-N’s Talal Chaudhry says SC will put Imran Khan in trouble. “He’s preparing to flee the country,” Chaudhry claimed.

12:00 Senior lawyer Farogh Naseem says today’s decision can put the PM in trouble.

11:30 – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan says the Panama case decision will be in accordance with people’s aspiration.

“After the ruling, corruption will come to an end. I foresee a new Pakistan,” Khan said, while speaking to Samaa, claiming that he did not level mere allegations but ‘presented proofs’ in the court.

Panama case: Our journey for Insaf pic.twitter.com/mZI7HgKq8k — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 20, 2017

11:00 – Maryam Nawaz Sharif‏, the daughter of Prime Minister, took to twitter, claiming that her father enjoys ‘overwhelming support’ regardless of the any fear of the verdict.

“Whatever the verdict, am amazed & humbled to see the overwhelming support for Nawaz Sharif. For a leader, that’s the most prized possession… That is so true & looking back, am thankful for that. As I said, strongest steel is forged in hottest fires,” she said in a series to tweets ahead of the ruling.

Whatever the verdict, am amazed & humbled to see the overwhelming support for Nawaz Sharif. For a leader, that’s the most prized possession. — Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 20, 2017

That is so true & looking back, am thankful for that. As I said, strongest steel is forged in hottest fires ☺️ https://t.co/pY5zWnyp1t — Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 20, 2017

The country braces for an unusual and historic decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan today (Thursday) on Panama Papers scandal involving Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s children.

All eyes are on the apex court that will announce its eagerly-awaited verdict this afternoon. Authorities have beefed up security in the federal capital, especially at the Supreme Court and adjoining areas, deploying Rangers with police.

Nearly one year after the Panama Papers scandal surfaced, the verdict was reserved by the court on 23rd February this year after conducting 26 hearings.

The case was heard by a five-member bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa.

As the countdown to the decision begins, the three main political parties — the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) — have finalised their strategies post-Panamagate.

The PM chaired a party meeting at the Prime Minister House where he appeared to be unfazed.

The Prime Minister has asked PML-N workers not to come to the Supreme Court today for hearing the verdict. In a statement, he said irrelevant people should refrain from entering the court’s premises.

PTI chairman Imran Khan expressed hope that the prime minister would not be given a ‘clean chit’ in the verdict and would be penalised in some way for “hiding his and his family’s assets off shore”.

The PTI has announced a public meeting at the Parade Ground following the apex court’s decision.

The PPP leadership met at the federal capital where party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari said he did not expect much from the verdict.

PPP spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said his party would decide its future line of action after the verdict announcement.

He said the party leadership would meet again at 2pm on Thursday, “to sit together to listen to the verdict”. – Samaa