[3] The Supreme Court had previously disqualified the incumbent Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, from holding public office in the Panama Papers case in 2017, citing Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution.

17 appeals and petitions by former officeholders challenging the length of disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) were fixed before the Supreme Court, which appointed senior counsels Munir A. Malik and Ali Zafar as amicii curiae.

[2] Attorney-General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali told the bench that it was not the function of the courts to provide a timeline for disqualification under Article 62(1)(f), and that the question should be best left for parliament to decide.

[7] The Court directed that all 17 appeals and petitions challenging the length of disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) for possessing fake degrees be fixed before appropriate benches "for decision in accordance with the law laid down in this judgment, keeping in view the respective facts and circumstances of each case."

Addressing the concern by some counsels of the petitioners that the lifetime ban resulting from Article 62 (1)(f) "may be disproportionate and a little harsh", Justice Saeed maintained that such arguments were more suitable to be made in parliament, rather than before the Court.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb addressed a press conference shortly after the verdict, saying, "As long as Nawaz Sharif lives in the hearts of the people, this disqualification will hold no meaning.