[But
as the political turmoil increased, Mr. Sharif flew to London Pakistan
By Salman Masood
 |
Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif of
Mr.
Sharif traveled to
Credit
Aamir Qureshi/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
|
Opposition
politicians have pressed Mr. Sharif to resign after the so-called Panama Papers
document leak revealed that three of his children controlled shell companies
through which they owned expensive residential properties in London
Mr.
Sharif has rejected any allegations of money laundering, claiming that his
children have legitimate business abroad, and he has signaled his willingness
to establish an inquiry commission.
But
as the political turmoil increased, Mr. Sharif flew to London Pakistan
In
his absence, the finance minister, Ishaq Dar, is leading important cabinet
meetings this week. However, government officials said that Mr. Sharif will
return on Sunday, and will face the crisis.
Mr.
Sharif, 66, an affluent businessman whose family has made its money through
businesses primarily dealing in steel, returned to power in 2013 after his
party won a majority in the general elections. He had been prime minister in
the 1990s and was ousted in a military coup in 1999.
Mr.
Sharif has tried to assert civilian control over the government but has run
into difficulties with the powerful military, which has again become ascendant
in both foreign and domestic affairs in recent months and commands a deep well
of public support.
On
Thursday, Imran Khan, the most trenchant political opponent of Mr. Sharif, also
arrived in London
Some
political analysts here say that the major opposition political parties do not
want the crisis to reach the point at which the military might step in.
But
the Panama Papers leak has lent momentum to Mr. Khan at a time when he had
seemed politically weakened. He led thousands of his supporters and staged a
sit-in outside the Parliament in 2014, accusing Mr. Sharif of rigging the last
general elections. That effort to bring down Mr. Sharif fizzled, but Mr. Khan
is taking this as a second chance.
“This
is a godsend opportunity for us,” Mr. Khan said last week, urging Pakistanis to
rise against Mr. Sharif.
Another
mainstream political power, the Pakistan Peoples Party, has so far seemed to be
weighing its options, and there has been no major joining of forces with Mr. Khan.
Analysts say the party may be looking to cut a deal with Mr. Sharif.
“They
are trying to find some kind of political agreement to deal with the current
crisis,” said Hasan Askari Rizvi, a prominent political analyst based in Lahore
“He
is not threatened to that extent,” Mr. Rizvi added. “However, if all political
parties join hands, then Nawaz is in real trouble.”
