Petition against Nawaz Sharif: IHC issues notices to FIA, Pemra, PTA chiefs

ISLAMABAD: Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) here on Tuesday issued notices to the DG FIA, chairman Pemra and chairman PTA in a petition seeking penal action against the former premier Mian Nawaz Sharif for a statement regarding Mumbai attacks.

Petitioners Rai Tajamul Hussain advocate and Fahad Bin Sadaqat also seeking to impose a complete ban on the broadcast of Nawaz Sharif’s speeches. Petitioners have cited Nawaz Sharif, DG FIA, chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) as respondents.

Legal counsel for the petitioners Babar Awan advocate appearing before the IHC adopted that the statement of Nawaz Sharif amounts to disrespect the Constitution and a treason. Justice Farooq in the bench inquired from advocate Babar Awan that whether court could impose a ban on the speeches of someone? To which advocate Babar Awan said that it was done in the case of Altaf Hussain.

Petitioners have adopted in the petition that Nawaz Sharif on May 3, during his appearance before the Accountability Court had threatened to public some national secrets.

In connection to this Nawaz Sharif gave an interview to a journalist who was already involved in leveling false allegations against national institutions. The interview was published on May 12. Petitioners said that Nawaz Sharif after his removal as prime minister is disgruntled and annoyed with all state institutions. Former prime minister, being sponsored by federal government and the Punjab government, is using facilities and resources of state to promote his anti-state agenda under different banners and styles. Our enemy India took this statement of Nawaz as a confession of Mumbai attacks.

According to the petition, the act of Nawaz amounts to provoking the enemies of Pakistan to take coercive measures against the state of Pakistan.

The petitioners said that they went to FIA office to register a complaint but this request was not entertained. They said that the act of Nawaz Sharif falls within the ambit of schedule offences for which FIA is competent authority to initiate legal proceedings against him.

Petitioners have prayed to the court to direct DG FIA to initiate legal proceedings against Nawaz Sharif after registering an FIR, chairman Pemra may be directed to bar TV channels not to broadcast such statements and chairman PTA may be directed to remove contents from social media who are against national institutions. Further hearing will be on May 24.