Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Friday barred former premier Nawaz Sharif from participating in polls for life, dealing a severe blow to his ruling PML-N party ahead of crucial general elections due this year. The ruling was the latest in a series of blows to Sharif, 67, who was disqualified by the apex court for dishonesty last July. The court also barred Sharif from holding the top post in the PML-N in February. Justice Umar Ata Bandial described the ban on Sharif as “permanent” while reading out the unanimous judgement in court. Opponents had tried to stop Sharif for the past 30 years but they could not succeed, she added.

Source: Hindustan Times April 13, 2018 06:58 UTC