IHC dismisses contempt of court petition against Nawaz

Plea dismissed due to lack of representation from the petitioner

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday dismissed a long-standing contempt of court petition against PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif related to his anti-judiciary speeches in 2018.

The hearing was presided over by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and the plea was dismissed on grounds of no representation on behalf of the petitioner during court proceedings. 

A citizen, Adnan Iqbal, had filed a contempt of court petition against Nawaz , seeking legal action for his statements made in 2018. 

Nawaz recently returned to the country after a four-year self-imposed exile. Last week, an accountability court directed authorities to return the confiscated assets and properties owned by the PML-N supremo in the Toshakhana case.

He has been the prime minister three times but has never completed a full term.

His last term ended when he was ousted in 2017 and given a lifetime disqualification from politics after being convicted of corruption in a case he says was politically motivated.

Months later, Nawaz got permission to seek medical care in Britain.

He is widely believed to have continued pulling the strings of his party from a luxury property in London. Nawaz's fortunes changed when Imran had a spectacular falling out with the top brass. Imran was later jailed in several cases he claimed were designed to keep him from contesting elections.