The Lahore High Court Monday has summoned Nawaz Sharif on October 8 during the hearing of a petition seeking action against the deposed prime minister for claiming that those involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack belonged to Pakistan.

Sharif, for the first time in May, publicly acknowledged in an interview to Dawn that militant organisations are active in Pakistan and questioned the policy to allow the "non-state actors" to cross the border and "kill" people in Mumbai.

In the exclusive interview, he had also criticised the apparent delay in the conclusion of the Mumbai attack trial.

The Lahore High Court's three-member bench headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi also issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Dawn journalist Cyril Almeida and ordered placing his name on the Exit Control List.

"Justice Naqvi expressed anger over non-appearance of Almeida in the court, directing the Deputy Inspector General of the Police Punjab to present him in the court on next hearing (October 8)," a court official told reporters.

The judge, before summoning Sharif on October 8, also inquired from Sharif's counsel Advocate Naseer Bhutta as why his client did not appear before the court on Monday.

Advocate Bhutta said Sharif would appear in the next hearing as he was mourning the death of his wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz. She died of throat cancer on September 11 in London.

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, however, appeared before the court.

Petitioner Amina Malik said Sharif, who was disqualified by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case in July 2017 and subsequently jailed for 10 years in Avenfield corruption case, in an interview to Dawn made the remarks that those involved in the Mumbai attack case actually belonged to Pakistan, thus he committed treason.

The petitioner said the "anti-state" statement of Sharif&nbsp;a three-time prime minister could be used against Pakistan by its enemies.

She said a meeting of the National Security Council was held to discuss the 'misleading' statement of the disqualified premier and later then prime minister Abbasi met Sharif and conveyed to him the concerns of the military leadership on his statement.

"The act of Abbasi was also a clear violation of his oath as he was bound not to allow his personal interest to influence his official conduct," the petitioner said.

The court adjourned the hearing till October 8.

Sharif, 68, resigned as Pakistan prime minister last year after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office and ruled that graft cases be filed against the beleaguered leader and his children over the Panama Papers scandal.

The Avenfield case was among the three corruption cases filed against the ex-premier by the National Accountability Bureau on the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case.

Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar were released last week following the suspension of their sentences by the Islamabad High Court in the Avenfield properties corruption case.

Some 166 people were killed in the attack carried out by 10 LeT terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was caught and hanged after handed down death sentence.

The Lahore High Court Monday has summoned Nawaz Sharif on October 8 during the hearing of a petition seeking action against the deposed prime minister for claiming that those involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack belonged to Pakistan.

The Lahore High Court Monday has summoned Nawaz Sharif on October 8 during the hearing of a petition seeking action against the deposed prime minister for claiming that those involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack belonged to Pakistan. Sharif, for the first time in May, publicly acknowledged in an interview to Dawn that militant organisations are active in Pakistan and questioned the policy to allow the "non-state actors" to cross the border and "kill" people in Mumbai. In the exclusive interview, he had also criticised the apparent delay in the conclusion of the Mumbai attack trial. The Lahore High Court's three-member bench headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi also issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Dawn journalist Cyril Almeida and ordered placing his name on the Exit Control List. "Justice Naqvi expressed anger over non-appearance of Almeida in the court, directing the Deputy Inspector General of the Police Punjab to present him in the court on next hearing (October 8)," a court official told reporters. The judge, before summoning Sharif on October 8, also inquired from Sharif's counsel Advocate Naseer Bhutta as why his client did not appear before the court on Monday. Advocate Bhutta said Sharif would appear in the next hearing as he was mourning the death of his wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz. She died of throat cancer on September 11 in London. Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, however, appeared before the court. Petitioner Amina Malik said Sharif, who was disqualified by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case in July 2017 and subsequently jailed for 10 years in Avenfield corruption case, in an interview to Dawn made the remarks that those involved in the Mumbai attack case actually belonged to Pakistan, thus he committed treason. The petitioner said the "anti-state" statement of Sharif a three-time prime minister could be used against Pakistan by its enemies. She said a meeting of the National Security Council was held to discuss the 'misleading' statement of the disqualified premier and later then prime minister Abbasi met Sharif and conveyed to him the concerns of the military leadership on his statement. "The act of Abbasi was also a clear violation of his oath as he was bound not to allow his personal interest to influence his official conduct," the petitioner said. The court adjourned the hearing till October 8. Sharif, 68, resigned as Pakistan prime minister last year after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office and ruled that graft cases be filed against the beleaguered leader and his children over the Panama Papers scandal. The Avenfield case was among the three corruption cases filed against the ex-premier by the National Accountability Bureau on the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case. Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar were released last week following the suspension of their sentences by the Islamabad High Court in the Avenfield properties corruption case. Some 166 people were killed in the attack carried out by 10 LeT terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was caught and hanged after handed down death sentence.

Pakistan court summons Nawaz Sharif in treason case over Mumbai attack remarks

The "best way" to celebrate 'surgical strike day' would be for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the family of a BSF soldier who was tortured and killed by Pakistani troops this week, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Friday.

He also announced that his government will amend a rule on giving ex gratia of Rs 1 crore to martyred security personnel to include those who have settled in the national capital after joining the services.

The chief minister took to Twitter to respond to a UGC communication to universities to observe September 29 as "surgical strike day". The UGC on Thursday asked varsities and higher educational institutions across the country to observe September 29 as "surgical strike day", triggering a political row.

"The best way to celebrate surgical strike day wud be for the PM to visit the family of Sh Narendra Singh, who was tortured and slain by Pak this week (sic)," he tweeted.

Earlier in the day, he visited Haryana's Sonipat to meet the family of BSF jawan Narender Singh, who was killed by Pakistani troopers along the international border (IB) near Jammu.&nbsp;

The chief minister also demanded that the prime minister assure the nation that Pakistan would be given a befitting reply.&nbsp;

On the Delhi government's policy of giving ex gratia of Rs one crore and a job to the next of kin of martyrs whose permanent address was in Delhi at the time of joining service, Kejriwal said, "We are holding a meeting of the Delhi cabinet on Tuesday in which we are going to change this rule."&nbsp;

"There is a lacuna in this rule as several families (martyrs/ families) have settled in Delhi later. So, we will change this rule and bring changes in a manner so that we are able to include sacrifices made by martyrs like Narender and are able to provide this ex-gratia grant and a job to the next of kin of Narender ji," he said.

He said that Narender had joined the force in 1988 and at that time his permanent address mentioned was of Haryana.

Kejriwal said that in Narender's case, he has come to know that for the last 8-10 years, he and his family were residing in Delhi.

The chief minister strongly condemned the brutal killing of the soldier and said there was growing anger in the country over Pakistan's actions.

"We strongly condemn this cowardly act. Pakistan killed him in brutal manner and tortured him before death...There is growing anger not just in this village or Haryana, but across the country for how long will Pakistan keep killing our soldiers like this," he said.

Hitting out at the central government, he asked, "Why is the Centre appearing so helpless. Why is the prime minister not doing anything?

"Before becoming prime minister, he (Narendra Modi) used to say that writing love letters (to Pakistan) won't help. He used to say Pakistan will need to be taught a lesson in its own language. So, why don't you give such a reply?" he asked.

In a jibe at the prime minister for his surprise visit to Pakistan nearly three years back, Kejriwal said, "If writing love letters won't do, will cutting cake on their (the then PM Nawaz Sharif) birthday help. After all, for how long will our soldiers tolerate this. This is not acceptable to the country. We want action, we don't want speeches."

Asked if India should be playing cricket matches against Pakistan, Kejriwal replied, "Playing or not playing won't stop the killing of soldiers at the borders".

Kejriwal said that providing monetary help or job to next of kin of martyrs was in no way going to compensate their loss, but it was a measure to provide some relief to the families.

He voiced the hope that the prime minister "will take steps so as to give a befitting reply to Pakistan".

The mortal remains of BSF Head Constable Narender were cremated with full state honours at his native village Thana Kalan in Haryana's Sonipat district on Thursday.

The 52-year-old BSF jawan is survived by two sons and wife.

The "best way" to celebrate 'surgical strike day' would be for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the family of a BSF soldier who was tortured and killed by Pakistani troops this week, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Friday.

The "best way" to celebrate 'surgical strike day' would be for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the family of a BSF soldier who was tortured and killed by Pakistani troops this week, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Friday. He also announced that his government will amend a rule on giving ex gratia of Rs 1 crore to martyred security personnel to include those who have settled in the national capital after joining the services. The chief minister took to Twitter to respond to a UGC communication to universities to observe September 29 as "surgical strike day". The UGC on Thursday asked varsities and higher educational institutions across the country to observe September 29 as "surgical strike day", triggering a political row. "The best way to celebrate surgical strike day wud be for the PM to visit the family of Sh Narendra Singh, who was tortured and slain by Pak this week (sic)," he tweeted. Earlier in the day, he visited Haryana's Sonipat to meet the family of BSF jawan Narender Singh, who was killed by Pakistani troopers along the international border (IB) near Jammu. The chief minister also demanded that the prime minister assure the nation that Pakistan would be given a befitting reply. On the Delhi government's policy of giving ex gratia of Rs one crore and a job to the next of kin of martyrs whose permanent address was in Delhi at the time of joining service, Kejriwal said, "We are holding a meeting of the Delhi cabinet on Tuesday in which we are going to change this rule." "There is a lacuna in this rule as several families (martyrs/ families) have settled in Delhi later. So, we will change this rule and bring changes in a manner so that we are able to include sacrifices made by martyrs like Narender and are able to provide this ex-gratia grant and a job to the next of kin of Narender ji," he said. He said that Narender had joined the force in 1988 and at that time his permanent address mentioned was of Haryana. Kejriwal said that in Narender's case, he has come to know that for the last 8-10 years, he and his family were residing in Delhi. The chief minister strongly condemned the brutal killing of the soldier and said there was growing anger in the country over Pakistan's actions. "We strongly condemn this cowardly act. Pakistan killed him in brutal manner and tortured him before death...There is growing anger not just in this village or Haryana, but across the country for how long will Pakistan keep killing our soldiers like this," he said. Hitting out at the central government, he asked, "Why is the Centre appearing so helpless. Why is the prime minister not doing anything? "Before becoming prime minister, he (Narendra Modi) used to say that writing love letters (to Pakistan) won't help. He used to say Pakistan will need to be taught a lesson in its own language. So, why don't you give such a reply?" he asked. In a jibe at the prime minister for his surprise visit to Pakistan nearly three years back, Kejriwal said, "If writing love letters won't do, will cutting cake on their (the then PM Nawaz Sharif) birthday help. After all, for how long will our soldiers tolerate this. This is not acceptable to the country. We want action, we don't want speeches." Asked if India should be playing cricket matches against Pakistan, Kejriwal replied, "Playing or not playing won't stop the killing of soldiers at the borders". Kejriwal said that providing monetary help or job to next of kin of martyrs was in no way going to compensate their loss, but it was a measure to provide some relief to the families. He voiced the hope that the prime minister "will take steps so as to give a befitting reply to Pakistan". The mortal remains of BSF Head Constable Narender were cremated with full state honours at his native village Thana Kalan in Haryana's Sonipat district on Thursday. The 52-year-old BSF jawan is survived by two sons and wife.

Best way to celebrate 'surgical strike day' is for PM to visit slain BSF jawan's family: Kejriwal

There was no "deal" between the governments of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for the release of jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members after a top court suspended their sentences in a corruption case, a senior Pakistani minister has asserted.

The Islamabad High Court Wednesday suspended the jail sentences of Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar in the Avenfield corruption case and they were released from the Adiala Prison in Rawalpindi.

"No country asked for his release. Nawaz Sharif is not so important for Saudi Arabia that they will talk about him," Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry said, rejecting the impression that the three-time former premier and his family members were released from jail under a "deal" between 
Imran Khan-led government and Riyadh.&nbsp;

The Islamabad High Court's verdict, ordering the release of the trio coincided with Prime Minister Khan's visit to Saudi Arabia, giving rise to speculation that the Sharif family members' release was a result of the Saudis' request, the Dawn newspaper reported.

But the report recalled that Saudi Arabia was a guarantor in a deal between the Sharif family and then military dictator General Pervez Musharraf in 2000 under which the Sharifs were released from jail and allowed to leave the country.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy close relations and whenever a leader wins an election in Pakistan, the first visit is always to the Gulf nation.

Nawaz Sharif never came under discussion during Prime Minister Khan's visit to Saudi Arabia where he had meetings with the oil-rich kingdom's rulers, Chaudhry said.

"He is not that important to be discussed during that visit," he claimed. 
"Those who say that Saudi Arabia would have talked [about Sharif during Prime Minister Khan's visit] actually don't know what kind of relationship the Saudis have with Nawaz Sharif," the minister said Thursday without elaborating.

"There will be no deal and no dheel (concession) with them (the Sharifs)," Chaudhry declared, adding that soon "they will be back to the place where they had been a few days back".&nbsp;

On July 6, an accountability court in Islamabad sentenced Sharif, Maryam and Safdar, to 10 years, seven years and one year in jail, respectively, in connection with the purchase of four luxury flats in London through corrupt practices.

"Nawaz Sharif will be in and out of jail. This thing will continue," he said, adding that the Sharifs had only been granted bail and the case was still pending against them.

"Those who were questioning the government for putting the names of the Sharifs on the Exit Control List (ECL) would have got the answer now.&nbsp;

"Had we not done so, they could have flown to London soon after their release, and where would we have looked for these princes then?" the minister said, justifying the decision of the Cabinet to place the names of the Sharifs on the ECL during its first meeting last month.

"We will not allow Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz to leave Pakistan and at the same time we will not allow (former finance minister) Ishaq Dar, and Hassan and Hussain (the two sons of Sharif) to stay out of Pakistan," he said.

Chaudhry said that for them it was not important that how much time the Sharifs would spend in jail, as for the government bringing back the looted money of the people of this country was more important.

Sharif, 68, resigned as Pakistan prime minister last year after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office and ruled that graft cases be filed against the beleaguered leader and his children over the Panama Papers scandal.

The Avenfield case was among the three corruption cases filed against the ex-premier by the National Accountability Bureau on the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case.

There was no "deal" between the governments of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for the release of jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members after a top court suspended their sentences in a corruption case, a senior Pakistani minister has asserted.

There was no "deal" between the governments of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for the release of jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members after a top court suspended their sentences in a corruption case, a senior Pakistani minister has asserted. The Islamabad High Court Wednesday suspended the jail sentences of Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar in the Avenfield corruption case and they were released from the Adiala Prison in Rawalpindi. "No country asked for his release. Nawaz Sharif is not so important for Saudi Arabia that they will talk about him," Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry said, rejecting the impression that the three-time former premier and his family members were released from jail under a "deal" between Imran Khan-led government and Riyadh. The Islamabad High Court's verdict, ordering the release of the trio coincided with Prime Minister Khan's visit to Saudi Arabia, giving rise to speculation that the Sharif family members' release was a result of the Saudis' request, the Dawn newspaper reported. But the report recalled that Saudi Arabia was a guarantor in a deal between the Sharif family and then military dictator General Pervez Musharraf in 2000 under which the Sharifs were released from jail and allowed to leave the country. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy close relations and whenever a leader wins an election in Pakistan, the first visit is always to the Gulf nation. Nawaz Sharif never came under discussion during Prime Minister Khan's visit to Saudi Arabia where he had meetings with the oil-rich kingdom's rulers, Chaudhry said. "He is not that important to be discussed during that visit," he claimed. "Those who say that Saudi Arabia would have talked [about Sharif during Prime Minister Khan's visit] actually don't know what kind of relationship the Saudis have with Nawaz Sharif," the minister said Thursday without elaborating. "There will be no deal and no dheel (concession) with them (the Sharifs)," Chaudhry declared, adding that soon "they will be back to the place where they had been a few days back". On July 6, an accountability court in Islamabad sentenced Sharif, Maryam and Safdar, to 10 years, seven years and one year in jail, respectively, in connection with the purchase of four luxury flats in London through corrupt practices. "Nawaz Sharif will be in and out of jail. This thing will continue," he said, adding that the Sharifs had only been granted bail and the case was still pending against them. "Those who were questioning the government for putting the names of the Sharifs on the Exit Control List (ECL) would have got the answer now. "Had we not done so, they could have flown to London soon after their release, and where would we have looked for these princes then?" the minister said, justifying the decision of the Cabinet to place the names of the Sharifs on the ECL during its first meeting last month. "We will not allow Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz to leave Pakistan and at the same time we will not allow (former finance minister) Ishaq Dar, and Hassan and Hussain (the two sons of Sharif) to stay out of Pakistan," he said. Chaudhry said that for them it was not important that how much time the Sharifs would spend in jail, as for the government bringing back the looted money of the people of this country was more important. Sharif, 68, resigned as Pakistan prime minister last year after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office and ruled that graft cases be filed against the beleaguered leader and his children over the Panama Papers scandal. The Avenfield case was among the three corruption cases filed against the ex-premier by the National Accountability Bureau on the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case.

No 'deal' with Saudi for release of Sharif & family from jail: Pak minister

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Pakistan court summons Nawaz Sharif in treason case over Mumbai attack remarks

Best way to celebrate 'surgical strike day' is for PM to visit slain BSF jawan's family: Kejriwal

No 'deal' with Saudi for release of Sharif & family from jail: Pak minister