SC to hear Nawaz Sharif's petition today

Islamabad, Aug 9: Pakistan's Supreme Court will today hear a constitutional 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.

The petitions, filed under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, request the SC to direct the federal and provincial governments to ''refrain from obstructing, hampering or resisting the return'' of the exiled petitioners and their family. It will be heard by a constitutional bench consisting of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Javed Buttar.

Nawaz and Shahbaz have become petitioners 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 same bench will also hear a suo motu case of increased prices of daily commodities.

Meanwhile, another bench comprising Justices Abdul Hameed Dogar and Faqir Muhammad Khokhar will resume proceedings in a suo motu case of the Lal Masjid operation.

UNI