PTI for ‘legal action against PM on consulting convict’

Party legal committee says it is clear violation of Official Secrets Act

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided to take full legal action against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for consulting a convicted person – his elder brother and PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif – over the “appointment of the new army chief”, saying that it is a “clear violation of the Official Secrets Act”.

Premier Shehbaz had flown to London on Saturday night to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral where he met Nawaz on Sunday and discussed matters of national interest.

“Shahbaz’s meeting with Nawaz and another notorious criminal Ishaq Dar is a clear violation of the prime minister's oath,” PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry told media persons after attending the legal committee meeting of the PTI chaired by former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday.

Fawad said important legal matters, including Shehbaz’s meeting with absconders, custodial torture case against Dr Shahbaz Gill, and telephone calls harassing PTI workers, were discussed during the meeting.

It has been decided to take the matter of telephone calls from unknown numbers to harass PTI workers to the court, Fawad said, adding that the legal committee resolved to bring the custodial torture case against Gill to a logical conclusion.

Fawad said he would approach the court regarding the shameful incident of torture of Gill during custody.

“The details of Shahbaz’s visit to London are very alarming and a clear deviation from the Constitution and law,” Fawad said. “Nawaz and Dar are absconders and meeting with convicts and consulting with them on the most important state issues are very worrying and apprehensive.”

Fawad said that the members of Shehbaz’s cabinet were constantly pointing out Nawaz’s role in appointing the army chief.

“It is hoped that the Supreme Court will organise an immediate hearing on these cases of deviation from the Constitution and law,” Fawad said. “The nation's hopes for justice are connected with the Supreme Court.”