Nawaz Sharif may face trial for ex-army official's murder

Islamabad, Sep.9 (ANI): Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may be tried for murder charges, as the Supreme Court is set to hear a petition accusing the PML-N chief for murdering a former Army officer.

According to sources, the apex court would hear the accusations against the former premier and would then decide whether to pursue the case further or not.

The petition accuses Sharif of plotting an ex-military officer's murder after a purported political kickback deal failed, The Nation reports.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N),however, has rejected the petition, saying the party chief is being wrongly framed in the case.

"This is a false and totally politically-motivated accusation," PML-N spokesperson Ahsan Iqbal said.

Iqbal said the accusations are a part of the 'smear campaign' being initiated against Sharif by the Presidency.

"This is only the latest in a series of recent accusations against Sharif. The presidency and hidden hands are trying to pressurise him into backing down on his demand for prosecuting Musharraf," Iqbal told BBC.

However, the main petitioner in the case, Shahid Orakzai, said the court ruling justified the long struggle against Sharif.

"It has taken 12 years for the truth to prevail," said Orakzai.

Orakzai's brother Major Shabbir Orakzai, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Kohat in 1997. (ANI)