ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appeared before Lahore High Court on Monday in a high treason case filed against him after his controversial interview given to the daily newspaper Dawn.
Among the co-accused appearing alongside Sharif were ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and journalist Cyril Almeida.
Sharif, after his ouster from the government, had said in his interview with Almeida for Dawn that the attackers involved in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks belonged to Pakistan. The interview sparked controversy across the country and led to a National Security Council (NSC) meeting held on his statement.
Abbasi, the then prime minister, was accused of sharing the NSC meeting’s minutes with his predecessor and the party supremo, Nawaz Sharif, which was a violation of the Official Secret Act of 1923.
Civil society activist Amna Malik filed a petition against Sharif, claiming his controversial interview had dented the country’s image and sovereignty. She argued that Abbasi violated his oath as PM by leaking the confidential information to Sharif and thus prayed to the court that all three respondents — Sharif, Abbasi and Almeida — should be tried for high treason according to Article 6 of the Constitution.
Security around the court premises was beefed up: Heavy contingents of Rangers and police were deployed as several Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers gathered outside the court awaiting the arrival of their party’s supremo and surrounded him as soon as Sharif reached the premises.
As the hearing began, the three-judge bench comprising Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Atir Mahmood and Justice Chaudhry Masood Jahangir, questioned the Deputy Attorney General, Mian Tariq, about the action taken by the government under Article 6 of the Constitution.
The court noted that “this is a sensitive issue.”
“Taking action under Article 6 is the government’s job,” Justice Jahangir remarked.
Justice Naqvi ordered a complete report on the matter to be submitted to the court by the attorney general.
During the last hearing, Almeida’s name was placed on the Exit Control List and non-bailable warrants for his arrest were issued after his failure to attend the previous hearings.
Almeida’s counsel, Advocate Ahmed Rauf, had filed written replies and comments on behalf of his client before Monday’s hearing, after which the court ordered the journalist’s name to be removed from the no-fly list and the warrants were withdrawn.
During the hearing, Abbasi’s lawyer requested the court adjourn the hearing until after the by-polls scheduled to take place on Oct. 14. Accepting the request, the bench adjourned the hearing until Oct. 22.
Two former Pakistan premiers summoned in high treason case
Two former Pakistan premiers summoned in high treason case
- A petition was filed against ex-PM Nawaz Sharif to try him for high treason after his controversial interview with journalist Cyril Almeida, in which Sharif said the 26/11 Mumbai attackers belonged to Pakistan
- Former Prime Minister Shahid Khakan Abbasi is accused of leaking details of the National Security Council (NSC) meeting summoned on Shairf’s statement, thus violating his oath
Pakistan casts uncertainty over T20 World Cup participation after Bangladesh row
- Pakistan Cricket Board chief criticizes ICC’s ‘double standards’ for replacing Bangladesh with Scotland in T20 World Cup
- PCB boss Mohsin Naqvi says board will take final decision on World Cup participation after Pakistan PM returns from UK
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi this week threw the national cricket team’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 into doubt by saying he would seek the government’s directives on it, after the International Cricket Council (ICC) replaced Bangladesh in the tournament.
Naqvi was speaking to reporters in Lahore on Saturday shortly after the ICC announced it had replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the T20 World Cup. The decision stemmed from Bangladesh’s refusal to play in India owing to security fears. Bangladesh had requested a venue outside India for their World Cup matches.
The demand was made owing to fresh tensions between Bangladesh and India’s cricket boards. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders earlier this month to drop Bangladesh’s cricketer Mustafizur Rahman due to political tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi.
Naqvi criticized the ICC for its “double standards” when it came to Bangladesh, pointing out that India and Pakistan were allowed to play against each other at neutral venues as per an earlier deal between both cricket boards and the ICC. He said Bangladesh should be allowed to play in the World Cup.
“If the government of Pakistan says we mustn’t play, then maybe the ICC will bring in a 22nd team (after Scotland),” Naqvi told reporters. “But this decision has to be taken by the government of Pakistan.”
Naqvi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in the United Kingdom, adding that a final decision on the matter will be taken then.
“We obey the government of Pakistan, not the ICC,” the PCB chairman said.
Pakistan play all their T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka, which are the co-hosts of the tournament. The T20 World Cup 2026 begins next month in India and Sri Lanka.
The Green Shirts play their first match of the tournament against Netherlands on Feb. 7. They are scheduled to play defending champions India on Feb. 15 in Colombo in their group stage clash.
