IHC dismisses plea seeking bar on issuing ‘diplomatic passport’ to Nawaz Sharif

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday has dismissed the maintainability of a petition against issuing a diplomatic passport to three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and arrest on his return home.

According to details, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah was hearing the case and reserved the verdict on Monday.

During the proceedings, the petitioner’s lawyer said that a convict had been issued a diplomatic passport. On which, the CJ Minallah remarked to show him the order issued by the federal government in this regard.

As per the petition, Nawaz Sharif is a convicted fugitive from justice who is being issued a diplomatic passport. 

Moreover, Chief Justice Islamabad High Court imposed a fine of Rs5000 to petitioner.  

The petitioner contended that as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo was "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".

The "issuance of a diplomatic passport to a convict is tantamount to bestowing respect, state protocols and dignity to a convict and if the convict is a court absconder it becomes a disgrace to the entire judicial system of the country," he added. 

The Petitioner stated that the act was also "against the spirit of the Constitution and against the fundamental rights whereby it has been guaranteed to every citizen that they will be treated equally".

Moreover, the petition stated, the country's courts had held that a fugitive would lose all rights a normal person was entitled to, adding that Article 25 of the Constitution had set clear standards against discrimination against citizens.

"And all the ordinary citizens will be discriminated if a convict is issued a diplomatic passport which has so many privileges and immunities, far more than the ordinary passport," it further added.