LHC takes up treason plea against Sharif, journalist today

LAHORE – Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will appear before the Lahore High Court (LHC) today in a petition seeking registration of a treason case against him, ex-premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and a journalist for trying to defame state institutions, said sources.
In the last hearing, Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi had summoned Nawaz Sharif, issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Cyril Almeida, a journalist from Dawn, and ordered authorities concerned to place his name on the exit control list (ECL).
Justice Naqvi had expressed anger over non-appearance of Almeida in the court directing the deputy inspector general of Punjab police to present him in the court on next hearing.
Noting that Almeida had failed to appear before the court during the last hearings of the case, the three-judge bench — headed by Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi — told the journalist’s lawyer that they would issue non-bailable arrest warrants for him so that he could be taken into custody and presented in the court.
Petitioner Amina Malik, through Advocate Azhar Siddique, contended that Sharif attempted to discredit the state institutions while issuing remarks about the Mumbai attacks during an interview to the reporter.
The petitioner states that after a National Security Council meeting held to discuss the controversial statement, Abbasi met the PML-N supreme leader and disclosed the minutes of the meeting to him which was a clear violation of the oath of his office.
Former premier Abbasi was present in the court for hearing. However, Nawaz Sharif and Almedia were absent. Defence counsel Advocate Naseer Bhutta had apprised the LHC bench that Nawaz was unable to appear before the court as people were visiting him to condole the death of his wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.

Source :The Nation