Not only has the PM managed to finalize a series of major infrastructure projects, but also addressed one of the most pressing issues for Pakistan, its extreme power shortages that have had a negative impact on the economy and people’s livelihood for decades.
With Nawaz Sharif Disqualified, Can There be Early Elections?
Although Nawaz’s political future is in jeopardy, his political party PML-N hopes that the PM’s prominent achievements will help the party win the 2018 general election even without Nawaz.
There is a chance that Nawaz could order early elections as his political party still remains the ruling party in Pakistan and could greatly benefit from the sympathy wave for Nawaz from the party’s long-time supporters.
What Does it Mean for Pakistan’s Relations with China, US and India?
Nawaz’s ouster will most likely have no immediate effect on Pakistan’s foreign affairs with other nations, including China, the U.S. and its enemy India, unless the new PM chooses a radically different direction with either of the aforementioned nations. It is expected that the CPEC project will not be hindered by Nawaz’s disqualification and the growing cooperation between Islamabad and Beijing would most likely not lose its pace.
The U.S. will most likely back the Supreme Court’s ruling, as Washington would not be eager to continue cooperating with a nation whose leader is plagued by a large-scale corruption scandal.
As for India, this could be a tricky situation. As New Delhi and Islamabad have engaged in a heated territory dispute over Kashmir, if a military coup takes place in Pakistan after Nawaz’s ouster, there is a chance that Indian troops could enter Kashmir under the pretext of fearing that Kashmiris are suffering from the political uncertainty in Pakistan. This increases the risks of India vs Pakistan war.
Nawaz Sharif Disqualified: What Does it Mean for the World?
The Panama Papers revelations have undeniably shaken corrupt elites in various countries around the world. The leak of off-shore assets included quite a few influential leaders, who have faced criticism over the alleged corruption claims following the revelations.
The leak even prompted Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson to step down shortly after the Panama Papers were made public last year. With Nawaz Sharif disqualified, the world’s attention could once again shift to the Panama Papers revelations and potentially give birth to new investigations into the claims made in the documents.
The leaders of both Russia and Ukraine were mentioned in the Panama Papers revelations, with the documents revealing that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner-circle had channeled $2 billion of Putin’s money through a complex network of offshore companies. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, meanwhile, was accused of setting up a secret offshore firm while his troops were surrounded and bombarded with rockets by pro-Russian separatists and allegedly Russian troops in eastern Ukraine in August 2014.
Global consequences of Nawaz’s disqualification have yet to be seen.
