The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday said the prime minister enjoyed immunity per the country’s constitution.
The SHC bench, comprising Justice Hassan Feroze, said this during the hearing of the contempt of court petition against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The petitioner, Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi, took the plea that during a press conference in Peshawar, hinting at the Karachi situation, Nawaz had said the judges were afraid of giving a verdict against the accused in Karachi.
“This statement from the PM falls in the ambit of contempt of court, therefore, he should be served contempt of court notice,” he said.
The petitioner was of the view that the prime minister had uttered such words which were tantamount to contempt of court, adding that earlier, former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had been put on trial on the same charges.
Upon this, the judge said, “The petitioner needed not to wander here and there; rather he should express his stance while keeping in view the very spirit of the law and the constitution which gives immunity to the prime minister under Article 248.”
Further proceedings were adjourned until October 28.