...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
High Court on Wednesday against the statement of former prime minister Mian
Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
that he would hold talks with the myrmidons, requesting the court to declare that no person could engage in negotiations with any private army.
The petition, filed by freelance journalist Shahid Orakzai, requested the court to declare that Mr Sharif's inclination to come to table with a private army belied his allegiance to Pakistain.
The petitioner stated that immediately after his party's election victory, Mr Sharif invited the Indian prime minister to attend his oath-taking ceremony and did so without the approval of the President of Pakistain who was to conduct the oath. He contended that the promotion of good neighbourly relations was not a higher constitutional priority than the preservation of Islamic ideology of Pakistain.
The petitioner requested the court to instruct the Election Commission of Pakistain (ECP) to inquire into Nawaz Sharif's relationship with the private army at war with Pakistain and give a ruling on his qualification to be elected as an MNA.
He has also requested the court to allow him interim relief by restraining the ECP from notifying the return of Mr Sharif or suspend such a notification until decision on this petition. The respondents in the case are Mian Nawaz Sharif and the ECP through its secretary.
The petitioner has raised several points asking whether any member of the National Assembly can review or revise any state policy without taking any oath under the Constitution. He questioned whether any member-elect of the National Assembly could assume control and command of the armed forces or dictate a ceasefire before assuming the office of prime minister. He asked whether any member-elect of the National Assembly could hold talks with a private army in contravention of Article 256 of the Constitution.