Lahore: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N party) on Wednesday dismissed reports that he may flee Pakistan before the Supreme Court’s verdict on the high-profile Panamagate case against him.
Sharif was diagnosed with a ‘small stone’ in his kidney last week, and reports suggested he may leave Pakistan like he did last year for an open-heart surgery in London. PML-N said since called the reports “rubbish” and accused the opposition of spreading “rumours”.
“I don’t know why the Pakistan Tahrek-i-Insaf (PTI) is spreading rumours about the Premier in this regard. We have already declared that whatever the SC’s decision is we will accept it,” National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said.
Sadiq said the PTI cannot put pressure on the PML-N or Sharif over the Panamagate case.
“Sharif’s name is not in Panamagate. So there is nothing to be worried about that,” he added.
Amid the Panama papers uproar, Sharif’s one-and-a-half-month stay in London in May 2016 had generated speculation about him stepping down in the wake of the scandal.
The Supreme Court last February reserved judgement in the high-profile case involving Sharif and his children; the much-awaited verdict in the Panama case is expected by mid-April.
The case pertains to investments allegedly made by Sharif and members of his family in Mossack Fonseca, an offshore investment company.
Meanwhile, Sharif, who was briefly hospitalised here after being diagnosed with a ‘small stone’ in his kidney, today left for Islamabad to resume official work.
“The Prime Minister after having a rest of four days left for Islamabad today to resume his official work,” a leader of the ruling PML-N party said.
Sixty-seven-year-old Sharif underwent a Computed Tomography (CT) scan following a minor stomachache. Doctors, following the scan, confirmed the presence of a stone in his left kidney.
After a brief stay doctors allowed Sharif to go home and suggested observing certain dietary schedule.
