Daily hearings in alleged corruption case against Sharif

The five-member larger bench of the court headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa resumed hearings of the case after more than two weeks of break. Justice Khosa announced that the case would be heard on day-to-day basis, thus accepting a major demand of opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, who is one the five petitioners in the high profile case. 

The petitioners alleged that Sharif and his family made assets in London through money laundering. The assets were allegedly run through offshore companies which were exposed by the Panama papers leak last year. Sharif, 67, has rejected the charges. 

The case may drag on for weeks or months even as both sides are claiming victories in the case which would have wider ramification for the political scene in Pakistan. 

Sharif would be disqualified if proved guilty and conversely Imran Khan would receive a serious blow ahead of next year elections as his whole campaign is built on Sharif’s alleged corruption.