Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has stepped down after the Supreme Court disqualified him from office as leader of the country’s government.

There had been months of hearings in a case instigated by the “Panama Papers” leaks, related to alleged corruption during his previous two terms in office.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court announced the verdict to a packed courtroom in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

According to a statement from the prime minister’s office, Sharif stood down from his post in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling shortly after it was announced.

“Immediately following the [Supreme Court’s] verdict, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has stood down as prime minister,” said the statement. “All legal and constitutional options will be exercised regarding our serious differences with this verdict.”

Azeez