LHC issues bailable arrest warrants of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court full bench on Monday issued bailable arrest warrants for former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for non-appearance in a petition seeking strict action against him and former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

The bench headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi passed the orders while hearing a petition filed by Amina Malik seeking action against the former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for trying to defame state institutions, through alleged anti-state interviews, and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for not honouring his oath of office by disclosing minutes of the National Security Council's meeting to his party leader.

The bench had issued notices to Nawaz Sharif and journalist Cyril Almeida on June 29, and adjourned the matter till September 10 (Monday) after the former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi requested to adjourn the proceedings till general election.

However, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi failed to appear before the bench during the proceedings on Monday.

At this, Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi took serious note of his non-appearance and expressed displeasure.

Subsequently, the bench issued bailable arrest warrants for Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and ordered him to submit surety bonds of Rs 1 million.

The bench also re-issued notices to Nawaz Sharif through Adiala Jail superintendent and journalist Cyril Almeida through senior superintendent police Islamabad besides adjourning further hearing till September 24.

Amina Malik had filed the petition submitting that Nawaz Sharif on May 11, 2018, during his interview to an English newspaper gave a misleading statement about Mumbai Attacks.

The petitioner said a meeting of the National Security Council was held to discuss the misleading statement and after the meeting the then prime minister Abbasi met Nawaz Sharif and conveyed to him the concerns of the military leadership and minutes of the meeting.

She said the act of Abbasi was a clear violation of his oath as he was bound not to allow his personal interest to influence his official conduct. She pleaded that the disqualified premier had committed sedition by rejecting the statement of the National Security Council and was liable for an action as directed in the Constitution as well as in the Pakistan Penal Code.