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Pakistan's top court, on 28 July, disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from office after a damning corruption probe into his family wealth, cutting short his third stint in power.
The Supreme Court dismissed Sharif after an investigative panel alleged his family could not account for its vast wealth. The court also ordered a criminal investigation against the premier and his family.
Since Shehbaz, Sharif's younger brother and the Chief Minister of Punjab province, is not a member of the National Assembly – the lower house of the Parliament – he cannot succeed immediately and would have to contest elections.
Therefore, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif will most likely become the interim prime minister for 45 days, till Shehbaz is elected in by-polls, reported Geo News, citing sources. The news outlet said these decisions were taken in a high-level huddle of ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz earlier in July.
It had also been decided during the meeting that the party will utilise all legal and constitutional options available if the verdict goes against the premier.
Pakistan Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf announced soon after the apex court’s verdict that Sharif has been “disqualified for life.”
(With inputs from PTI and Reuters.)
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