LHC rules treason petitions against Nawaz Sharif are 'invalid'

Treason petitions filed against deposed Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif over his controversial statements regarding Mumbai attacks were dismissed on Thursday by the Lahore High Court (LHC).

The petitions, which were filed by Pakistani Awami Tehreek's Khurram Nawaz Gandapur and another by Chairman Pakistan Zindabad Party Aftab Virk Advocate, were dismissed by LHC Judge Shams Mehmood Mirza, local media reported.

After hearing arguments from Ganapur, Judge Mirza observed that the petition to be invalid and directed him to contact the proper forum for the petition. Gandapur  submitted a treason petition against Sharif earlier on May 14. In his petition, Gandapur said that the remarks by Sharif were equal to committing treason.

Statements made by the three-time Prime Minister in an interview has caused Sharif to come under severe criticism. During his interview to a newspaper, Sharif said, “Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can’t we complete the trial?” He asked for the explanation as to why the trial regarding it has not been completed.