The Islam-abad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday admitted a writ petition for regular hearing which sought court's orders to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to initiate legal proceedings against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his "anti-Pakistan" statements. A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq conducted hearing of this matter and admitted the petition for regular hearing and issued notices to the respondents.
Petitioners Rai Tajamul Hussain Advocate and Fahad Bin Sadaqat moved the court through their counsel Babar Awan Advocate and cited Director General (DG) Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), former PM Nawaz Sharif, chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA) and chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) as respondents.
The petitioners stated in their petition that on May 3, while appearing before the NAB court, Nawaz Sharif "threatened" the state institutions as well as nation at large to disclose state secrets which he came to know as the prime minister.
They added that the former prime minister is annoyed with all the state institutions after being removed and hit by consequences of the Panama Papers case. They maintained that it is a public fact that Nawaz was unable to defend himself before the apex court in corruption charges as he failed to give any proof of source of income or money trail for the laundered money.
The petitioners alleged, thereafter, the 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.
They maintained that on May 11, Nawaz gave an interview aimed at maligning the prime security institution of the country.
The petitioners said that the above-noted interview was celebrated by highly inimical and arch rival country, India, and it was taken as confession by and on behalf of Pakistani state, admitting its involvement in terrorist acts occurring in Mumbai.
They continued that it is another public fact that according to media reports, Nawaz Sharif and his family brought Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, business tycoon Sajan Jandal, RAW chief and a number of Indian workers for the business concerns of Sharif family without observing legal and codal formalities of immigration and visa laws for which FIA is duty-bound to enforce the writ of the state but due to massive influence of the respondent, FIA had failed so far to enforce the law of land and adhere to the Constitutional dictates under Article 4, 5, 8, 9 and 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
According to the petition, the act of Nawaz amounts to provoking the enemies of Pakistan to take coercive measures against the state of Pakistan. Therefore, they prayed to the court to direct FIA to initiate legal proceedings against Nawaz Sharif and register a case against him.
He requested the court that the chairman PEMRA may be directed to ensure that the anti-state speeches and remarks of Nawaz Sharif defaming the high esteemed institutions are not live aired in any manner whatsoever on electronic media. The petitioner further requested the court that the chairman PTA may be directed to remove entire anti-state and anti-institutions speeches from social media.