Pakistani Ousted Prime Minister Starts Rally Procession to Hometown

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif started a supporters' rally following the Supreme Court's decision to remove him from office, local media reported Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the SAAMA TV broadcaster, over 7,000 people and between 900 and 1,000 vehicles have been participating in the procession. The caravan started its journey for Sharif's hometown Lahore from Punjab House Islamabad at 12:00 p.m. Punjab time (7:00 a.m. GMT) and would pass through various cities and towns along the historic Grand Trunk Road.

"It is people's trust that inspires Nawaz Sharif.. May Allah keep my brother, my leader & all the participants of rally in His protection —ss," Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of the former Prime Minister wrote in a tweet.

Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently the chief minister of Punjab, will become the Pakistani prime minister instead of incumbent Shahid Khaqan Abbasi after the parliamentary by-election during which he will be elected to the National Assembly. The system of power transfer was elaborated by Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (N) party leadership and approved by the former prime minister.

On July 29, Pakistani Supreme Court decided to remove Sharif following corruption investigation into his family. The investigation was launched after the Panama Papers leak revealed in April 2016 that Sharif's two sons and a daughter owned at least three offshore companies registered on the British Virgin Islands.