Bail of PML-N leaders: Petition filed against minister over claim of deal between government, Nawaz

A writ petition has been filed before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking punishment for Federal Minister for Aviation, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, for terming release of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif as a result of 'deal' between the government and Sharif.

An Islamabad-based lawyer Khalid Mehmood Khan moved the court and cited the federal minister and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) as respondents.

He stated in his petition that in a talk show on a TV channel, Ghulam Sarwar was talking about the 'deal' between the government PML-N leader and alleged that the release of Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz is a result of 'deal' between the government and former prime minister.

He adopted that being a citizen of the country, the petitioner has a basic right to know about the fact whether such kind of 'deal' was matured between Nawaz Sharif and government, and if answer is a 'yes' then it is question mark on the independence of the institution of this country and if the answer is 'no', then why a responsible leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and federal minister of this country has courage to give such kind of irresponsible statement at the TV channel.

According to the petition, "The act of the respondent No. 1 (Sarwar) is an act to malign the dignity of this court, which accepted the petition and granted bail to Mian Nawaz Sharif. Hence the statement of respondent No. 1 falls in the ambit of contempt of this court."

It added; "The court has ample power to summon respondent No. 1 in person before this court and punish him under the relevant provisions of law."

The petitioner maintained that the act of federal minister reflects that the health institutions, jail authorities, medical board and all other institutions of Punjab as well as federal government, are involved in the alleged 'deal'.

"It was very unfortunate statement of the respondent No. 1 which also reflects that the judicial institutions of this country also played a role in the alleged deal," contended the petitioner.

Therefore, he prayed to the court to direct Sarwar to appear before this court in person and explain the facts of the 'deal' between Nawaz Sharif and government as well as other institutions which were included in the execution of such type of 'deal' and if his statement is against the facts and based upon mala fide intention, then he may be punished under the relevant provisions of law in the best interest of justice.