Pakistan PM ousted by Supreme Court over Panama Papers case

Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, has been removed from office by the country’s Supreme Court over information revealed in the Panama Papers leak.

Sharif resigned on Friday after the highest court in Pakistan disqualified him from office, following a probe into his family’s involvement in offshore companies.

The five-member court reached the verdict on Friday despite Sharif consistently protesting his innocence during the investigation.

Papers leaked last year showed three of Sharif’s children had links to offshore companies which owned high-end property in London.

The Supreme Court concluded that Sharif could not prove where his family’s wealth originated from.

A statement from the PM’s spokesperson confirmed his resignation.

"Following the verdict, Nawaz Sharif has resigned from his responsibilities as prime minister," Sharif’s office said on Friday.

Several other individuals are under investigation in the case, with the court recommending anti-corruption cases against members of Sharif’s family, as well as finance minister Ishaq Dar.

The decision will plunge Pakistan into further political instability, with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz now having to nominate an interim PM ahead of next year’s elections.