Islamabad (Web Desk): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday rejected a petition against the issuance of diplomatic passport to former premier and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif by the incumbent government.
According to details, ruling was announced after being reserved by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah earlier in the day.
During the hearing, the IHC chief justice asked the petitioner's counsel what order of the federal government's was he challenging.
"The court cannot give a verdict in the air," Justice Athar Minallah added.
“Where has the order been issued and who has issued an order that you are challenging? Why not reject your application with a penalty?” the IHC CJ asked.
The petitioner claimed that the instructions for the issuance of the diplomatic passport were given to the interior and foreign affairs secretaries.
The petitioner contended that as Nawaz "is a court absconder who was convicted by learned National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Court for corruption ... it is violative of law, a mockery of the justice system and disgrace to the nation if a diplomatic passport is issued to a convict".
The CJ IHC further remarked that there were laws related to dealing with absconders, adding that the law must take its own course.
“There are many other issues. Why did you bring this issue unnecessarily?” the CJ inquired.
The petitioner's lawyer argued that the news was circulating in the media. "We also consider the dignity of the court," the counsel said.
“If given time, we will try to get the order from the government,” the counsel further said.
However, the court disposed of the petition after slapping a Rs5,000 fine on the petitioner on account of counsels engaged during the hearing at state expense.
