Petition filed to disqualify Pakistan PM

Lahore, Aug 30: A petition was filed in the Lahore High Court Saturday seeking to disqualify Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for lying in his speech to parliament.

The application was filed by advocate Gauhar Nawaz who is a senior president of the Insaf Lawyers Forum, Dawn online reported.

The petition stated that Nawaz Sharif had lied to the nation on the issue of arbitration by the army.

Nawaz Sharif Friday told parliament that it was Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahir-ul Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan who had requested a meeting with Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif in order to broker a settlement with the government over the prevailing political crisis.

Nawaz Sharif said he had given permission to the army chief to engage the two leaders and play the role of a mediator.

However, Imran and Qadri had categorically rejected the premier's statement that they had invoked the army's help and in separate speeches, slammed the premier for 'lying to the nation'.

The military later issued a statement saying that it was playing the role of facilitator in the ongoing political crisis at the behest of the government.

Meanwhile, a non-bailable arrest warrant has been issued for Qadri and 71 activists of his party.

The leaders and the government are scheduled to hold another meeting regarding the protests that Khan and Qadri began Aug 15 demanding the resignation of Nawaz Sharif, who they accuse of rigging the 2013 general election.

IANS