LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday issued fresh notices to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on a long pending petition seeking action against them for handing over Aimal Kansi to the US in 1998.

Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafree filed the petition and also wanted the court to declare Kansi a national hero. The barrister pleaded that Kansi was innocent and had not murdered any CIA agent but on mere allegation he was extradited to the US where he was tried and executed. He asked the court to issue a declaration that Kansi was illegally removed from his motherland and the government be ordered to exhume his body and accord him a state funeral.

The petitioner further contended that Nawaz Sharif be directed to pay Sterling Pounds 7,860,000 for handing over Kansi to the US. He also prayed that a case be lodged against the respondents for their criminal misconduct.

Justice Masood Abid Naqvi took up the petition on Thursday and issued fresh notices to the respondents for March 16.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2017