Sharif in dock over coercion

ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: Pakistan's Supreme Court has opened an inquiry against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for alleged misuse of power, court so...

ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: Pakistan’s Supreme Court has opened an inquiry against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for alleged misuse of power, court sources said.They said the court called two opposition Members of Parliament to testify before Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah today and tomorrow about their charges that Sharif had pressured banks and about alleged irregularities in a wheat import contract.

Sharif’s government denies the charges, which the two Members of Parliament from former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party have cited as cases of human rights violations.Senate member Safdar Abbasi alleged that Sharif used his official position to pressurise banks for out-of-court settlement of charges of default of repayments of huge loans brought against an industrial group owned by Sharif’s family.

The inquiry was opened amid a running tussle between the Supreme Court and Sharif’s government for not appointing new judges proposed by Shah. The ongoing conflict took a new turn with the Chief Justice seeking President Farooq Leghari’s help in elevating some judges to the Supreme Court.

Story continues below this ad

In a letter to the President, Chief Justice Sajjadhli Shah invoked his right under Article 190 of the Constitution, urging him to act in aid of the Supreme Court regarding the implementation of his recommendations for the appointment of five more judges to the apex court.

It may be recalled that the Chief Justice had to the Supreme Court recommended to the government to appoint five more judges raising its strength. However, the very second day the government, through a notification issued through the President, reduced the strength which created a row between the government and the judiciary.