CJ IHC Athar Minallah dismisses petition against potential issuance of diplomatic passport to Nawaz Sharif.

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed a petition asking the court to stop the expected issuance of a diplomatic passport to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, stating that the petition "is based on unreliable material and is, therefore, frivolous".

Advocate Naeem Haider Panjutha, had filed a petition in the IHC on Thursday, referring to media reports that said Nawaz was being issued a diplomatic passport on the instructions of newly elected Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif - also his sibling. 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 NAB (National Accountability Bureau) 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".

During the hearing on Monday, 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," the CJ 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 CJ asked.

Justice Minallah further...