Pakistan court orders filing of murder charges against Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court today ordered framing of murder charges against Nawaz Sharif and others over the alleged killing of two protestors during ongoing anti-government demonstrations, the second criminal case to be filed against the embattled Prime Minister.

Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT), led by fiery cleric Tahirul Qadri, had approached a district court for registering of cases, alleging that its two workers were killed in police firing during demonstrations against Sharif.

The cleric had appealed to the court to give directions to police for registering cases against Sharif, ministers of interior, defence and railway, commissioner Islamabad, police chief and others.

A lawyer from Islamabad, Ahmad Ali Chaudhry who was present during the hearing, told PTI that the judge after the hearing asked police to take necessary action for registration of the case.

It will be the second criminal case against Sharif after last month a case was registered following the orders of the court in Lahore over the killing of Qadri's 14 workers in June.

The nomination of a person in a case does not affect his legal status but conviction makes people ineligible for any public office in Pakistan.

PAT and Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-i- Insaf are agitating since August 14, demanding Sharif's ouster.

Khan's PTI wants Sharif's ouster over alleged rigging in last year's poll which his party lost, while Qadri wants to bring a revolution in the country.

At least three people have been killed and over 550 injured during the protests.