The petitioner also argued in court that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had lost "moral ground" to hold his office in the wake of the 'Panama Papers' leak. (File photo)
A petition demanding that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif be "disqualified" for alleged money laundering and "wilfully concealing" his wealth from the public was admitted by the Lahore High Court today.
After hearing the arguments of petitioner Gohar Nawaz Sindhu, Lahore High Court Justice Shahid Wahid overruled the objection of the government's law officer and allowed him to submit evidence over the alleged presence of two off-shore companies of Prime Minister Sharif.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) adjourned the hearing till April 14.
The petitioner also argued in court that the Prime Minister had lost "moral ground" to hold his office in the wake of the 'Panama Papers' leak that allegedly showed his sons were involved in money laundering and having off-shore companies in the UK.
"After the Prime Minister's son Hussain Nawaz's admission about the existence of their companies outside Pakistan, the Premier should be disqualified. Hussain was a minor when the offshore companies were purchased outside Pakistan in 1993 and 1994 but PM Sharif did not declare these assets before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)," the the petitioner alleged.
"The Premier was also involved in money laundering and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar's confessional statement and the confession of the Premier's sons about transfer of money abroad are enough evidence in this regard. PM Sharif has wilfully concealed his wealth from the public thus he cannot hold a public office," he argued.
The petitioner also requested the court to order the National Accountability Bureau to carry out an inquiry into the 'Panama Papers' and fix responsibility.
"The ECP should also be directed to start an inquiry against the Prime Minister for concealing the facts from the public while submitting his nomination papers," the petitioner demanded.