LAHORE, Aug 15: The Lahore High Court was requested on Thursday to restrain the government from barring the entry of PML(N) President Mian Shahbaz Sharif to Pakistan.

A writ petition filed by a PML(N) primary unit president, Gulzar Malik, through Advocate A.K. Dogar said Shahbaz Sharif had a constitutionally-guaranteed right to return to Pakistan because his exile from the country was unconstitutional.

He also had a fundamental right to contest the polls, conduct his party’s election campaign and form a government of if it won.

The petition said Islam does not recognize forcible seizure of power or the law of necessity nor does it empower the judiciary to uphold or validate either. This aspect of the 1999 military takeover was not decided by the Supreme Court in the Zafar Ali Shah case.

Pending the disposal of his petition, the petitioner sought an interim declaration in favour of the PML(N) leader’s return and participation in the electoral process.