The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) have threatened to launch a countrywide movement if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif doesn't resign in seven days over the Panama Papers scandal.
Read: Panama Papers scandal: Why India is hoping Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif survives in power
According to The Dawn, the two bar associations issued a joint statement on Saturday following the Supreme Court's order on the Panama Papers case. "Both bar associations are of the view that in light of the Supreme Court's ruling on the Panama Papers case (that questioned the moral authority of the premier to rule), PM Nawaz Sharif should no longer hold his office and should therefore resign," said the statement.
The statement said the judgement has clearly indicted Sharif and his three children of corruption after the leaked Panama Papers linked his family to offshore businesses in the British Virgin Islands.
On May 18, the Pakistan Supreme Court ordered a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe corruption allegation against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and present a report within 60 days.
"For fair and independent inquiry against the premier, Nawaz Sharif should step down till the final report of the JIT. In case he does not resign till May 27 the lawyers throughout Pakistan will launch a nationwide campaign and movement to ensure his resignation," the statement said.
The notification was issued soon after SCBA and LHCBA members clashed with the lawyers supporting the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML_N) government at the All Pakistan lawyers' Representatives' Convention on May 19.
The PML-N lawyers locked up SCBA President Rasheed A Rizvi in the Lahore High Court's library. Later SBCA members broke the lock and set Rizvi free. The police were called in to control the situation.
Later, the lawyers led by Rizvi took out a rally on the Mall Road demanding the resignation of PM. Rizvi, who was accompanied by SCBA Secretary Aftab Bajwa and LHCBA President Zulfiqar Chaudhry, asserted that the convention would be held under any circumstances.
While the Opposition believes that Sharif will have to step down in the wake of the lawyers' movement, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has said Sharif will not resign at any cost and he will remain the prime minister until May 31, 2018.
The PML-N's Lawyers Wing representatives have also argued that the Panama Papers case is still under judicial consideration and therefore the demands for the prime minister's resignation at this point is not appropriate.
Opposition parties have accused Sharif of failing to explain the source of his offshore money and lying to parliament. Meanwhile, Sharif and his family have denied the accusations.
