Man seeks treason case against Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif

Petitioner alleges the chief minister disgraced politicians, including Quaid-e-Azam

LAHORE: A man reached a district and sessions court to seek the registration of a treason case against Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He accused the CM of damaging the repute of deceased politicians, particularly Quaid-e-Azam.

Petitioner Syed Azhar Abbas told the court that the Punjab chief minister, on December 22, 2016, addressed the participants of a ceremony at Arfa Software Technology Park. “In his speech on the occasion, he [Shehbaz] incited people by saying elected political leaders, as well as military regimes, had been ruining Pakistan for 70 years,” the petitioner said.



He told the court that Shehbaz’s statement damaged the repute of genuine political figures. The petitioner said Nawaz Sharif had been the prime minister of the country on three occasions and this statement raised question marks over PML-N’s own performance. He added Shehbaz also inadvertently confessed to his own inadequacies as he was a past chief minister of Punjab.



The petitioner said Shehbaz attempted to provoke the Pakistani nation and his speech questioned the role of Quaid-e-Azam, the first governor general and founder of Pakistan.

He requested the court to direct the Model Town SHO to register an FIR against Shehbaz Sharif for damaging the repute of deceased leaders particularly Quaid-e-Azam. However, the additional district and sessions judge sought comments from the SHO on May 24.

Talking to The Express Tribune, petitioner Syed Azhar Abbas said allegations leveled by Shehbaz were of a serious nature. He asked what sort of message did people want to give the nation through such speeches.