SC postpones hearing on Sharif's petition

Islamabad, Aug 9: Pakistan Supreme Court today postponed hearing on a petition by deposed Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz, seeking orders for their return from exile, to August 16.

A constitutionl bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Javed Buttar, adjourned hearing on the petition, filed under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, requesting the apex court to direct the federal and provincial governments to ''refrain from obstructing, hampering or resisting the return'' of the exiled petitioners and their family.

Nawaz and Shahbaz moved the petition through their attorney in Pakistan, Hamza Shahbaz, while the PML-N is a petitioner through Khawaja Asif, member of the party's central working committee.

The petition came amidst growing speculation that the Pakistan government was considering imposing emergency in the country.

Opposition leaders claimed that the move to impose emergency was meant to stall the return of the Sharif brothers, and vowed to resist the move.

UNI