ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday asked former premier Imran Khan to "bow before the law" instead of "shooting and organizing mobs," after the country's election oversight body barred the latter from holding a public office over misrepresentation of his assets.
The statement came hours after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified Khan after finding he had concealed assets made from the sale of state gifts in his wealth statement submitted to the commission.
While the verdict has sparked protests by Khan supporters in different cities, PM Sharif and his allies have hailed it as "justice" that shattered the idol of "honesty and trustworthiness."
"The election commission did justice in the Toshakhana reference. The nation has seen that the post of prime minister was made a source of personal gain through corrupt practices," PM Sharif said on Twitter.
"The idol of 'honesty and trustworthiness' was shattered. Instead of fighting the law, firing gunshots, hitting with sticks or bringing mobs, bow before the law. No one is above the law."
In a press conference, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah also warned Khan and his supporters not to create law and order situation after the ECP verdict.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the election oversight body found Khan "guilty of corrupt practices."
"He who would spread lies about alleged corruption of his political opponents has been caught red handed," Bhutto-Zardari said on Twitter.
