The Supreme Court of Pakistan has disqualified Nawaz Sharif after the Panama Papers verdict. The Pakistani Prime Minister had for a longtime had vast influence over the political system and it seemed that he was not going any where soon. His children and himself were facing charges of corruption that escalated over the past two years. There were previous attempts to have him step down, specifically with Imran Khan and the Pakistan Movement of Justice. This sudden turn of events could destabilize the region. This is not the first time Sharif fell from power. The coup of 1999 saw Musharraf Pervez come to power. There are rumors that his brother could take over, but he also is accused of corruption. Nawaz Sharif could not explain how certain funds were amassed to his as well as his family's accounts. If he had remained there could have been street protests, but there may still be as Pakistanis lose faith in their government. This has implications beyond Pakistani borders. An unstable Pakistan could jeopardize the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and the New Silk Road project. Afghanistan would feel after shocks with a Taliban still active and undefeated. India could benefit the most from a weakened Pakistan, because at the moment India seems to be interested in increasing its power. This does not mean it wants to challenge its traditional enemy Pakistan, but conflate border issues with China. Soon if not already, the Indian Ocean will be a point of conflict. China has in its foreign policy been more supportive of Pakistan. The change in leadership holds a level of uncertainty and fear when analyzing other regional sources of contention.
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