Nawaz Sharif, former Pakistan PM, disqualified from politics for life

Pakistan's Supreme Court has disqualified former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, dismissed from his post over corruption allegations previous year, from holding public office for life.

Sharif, 68, a three-time former prime minister, was disqualified and removed from office past year on corruption allegations against his family. A bunch of appeals and petitions had challenged the length of disqualification under the article. "Such a person can not contest elections or become a member of Parliament", the verdict read. Likewise, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen was disqualified on Dec 15 previous year by a separate bench of the apex court under the same provision.

"A person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) unless... he is sagacious, righteous, non-profligate and honest, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law", reads Article 62 (1) (f) of the Pakistani Constitution.

He and his family stand accused of using offshore holding companies to buy luxury properties in London, charges stemming from the Panama Papers leaks in 2016. Female activists from PML-N protested outside the top court following the decision.

The Supreme Court ruling will also effect a senior opposition member Jehangir Tareen who belongs to PTI, the party of former cricket captain Imran Khan. "And the people of Pakistan have always rejected these judgments", Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb told reporters outside the Supreme Court. "The trial has been going on in NAB court and the disqualification verdict is already out", she was quoted as saying by Samaa TV. Sharif has denied any wrongdoing. The ruling is believed to change the course of Pakistan's political history.

However, the only real way to bring Nawaz Sharif back to office is if "they come into power through the election and amend the constitution", said former Justice Shaiq Usmani.