Pakistan’s Sharif may call snap polls to save future

Subject

The political impact of the 'Panamagate' scandal.

Significance

A five-member Supreme Court bench on April 20 ordered the constitution of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the legitimacy of the offshore assets (mostly in the United Kingdom and Qatar) of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family. In coming months, the Court bench will monitor and oversee the investigation in which both civilian law enforcement and military intelligence will participate.

Impacts

• The government will avoid challenging the military’s foreign policy this year.
• The scandal will increase pressure on the political elite to ensure public probity.
• A military coup is highly improbable at present.