Treason: LHC dismisses petition against Nawaz

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday dismissed as withdrawn a petition seeking action against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif under treason charges for his recent media statement regarding the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The counsel for Pakistan Zindabad Party’s chairman Aftab Virk opted to withdraw the petition to make some amendment when Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza was going to dismiss it for not maintainable. The judge accepted the request and dismissed the petition as withdrawn. The petitioner had contended that the ‘irresponsible’ statement by Nawaz tarnished the country’s image and India was crying for seeking sanctions against Pakistan.

He claimed that the statement of the former premier benefited India and appeared prejudicial to the safety and the interests of state, and apparently Nawaz Sharif was guilty of high treason as well as offences punishable in terms of the Official Secret Act, 1923 for which he deserved to be proceeded against in accordance with law. The petitioner asked the court to order the ministry of interior to lodge a case against the ousted prime minister under Article 6 of the Constitution and prosecute him in terms of high treason.