THE judgement handed down by the Supreme Court on Thursday cannot, in any way, be considered a victory for Nawaz Sharif and his family.

It was a split decision, with a condition for the formation of a joint investigation team to trace how money was invested in property abroad.

There is an anomaly here: who will comprise the team? As the PTI lawyer said if the team comprises people in the government, they are beholden to Mr Sharif, so they will per force give a pro-Sharif report.

Hence the PTI`s demand that the prime minister step down while the investigation is on.

The one most damning comment quoted by the PTI lawyer about one of the dissenting judges was that the prime minister was not honest to the nation and, therefore, must quit. This is a most powerful comment.

Sardar Ahmed Shah Jan Peshawar (2) RIGHT after the verdict was announced, almost all opposition parties demanded immediate resignation from the prime minister to make sure the JIT performs its duties without any pressure.

On technical grounds, a JIT would be under the supervision of the prime minister, but the Supreme Court assured in its verdict that it would monitor all the activities of the JIT.

Opposition parties say the JIT could never be neutral as long as Nawaz Sharif is prime minister. He should step down till investigation is completed.

The million-dollar question is: what will the Supreme Court do when JIT officials also come up with the same excuses which the NAB and FBR made? This case is no more against premiership but against the system that does not allow departments to work individually and freely.

Waqar Abro Karachi (3) THE JIT will function under the Supreme Court bench instead of the government.

The prime minister`s family will be media-trailed for the next 60 days. The JIT would report to the court after every two weeks.

The final decision of the apex court would be based on the report finalised by the JIT.

In my opinion, it is a disappointingdecision because the judiciary has lost a precious opportunity to set a memorable example against corruption.

Wali Ejaz Nekokara Chiniot (4) WHILE the Supreme Court verdict has made both the parties, Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf and Pakistan Muslim League, unanimously happy, the jubilation expressed by the parties dehes logic.

The PMN-N is celebrating the verdict as the prime minister and his family have been exonerated by the apex court, while the case is yet to be probed by the joint investigation team.

As regards the PTI, it is happy over the formation of a joint investigation team, the same JIT once downright rejected by the same party.

One balks at the idea of referring the case to the JIT for resolving it. Should we assume that some officers are better at dispensing justice? This sounds paradoxical.

One wonders how the officers would be able to carry out the huge responsibility of investigating the charges against the man from whom they are supposed to receive orders.

One can only hope that the selected officers will not act apologetic when discharging their duties.

While the PTI is demanding that the PM should resign sounds legitimate, the PPP rhetoric that the PM should resign reeks of hypocrisy.

The fact that they remained silent throughout the trial and now they cry foul to seek resignation seems contradictory.

Maheen Miandad Karachi