LAHORE: Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh of the Lahore High Court on Friday dismissed as not maintainable a contempt petition filed against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, federal ministers, senators and other elected representatives for their alleged speeches against judges of the Supreme Court during a PML-N rally from Islamabad to Lahore. The judge held that the petitioner, if desired, can approach the apex court for this relief. The other respondents included Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Senator Mushahidullah Khan, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Talal Chaudhry, Maiza Hameed, Abid Sher Ali, Danyal Aziz and Asif Kirmani. Earlier, the judge while hearing petition moved by Amina Malik of the Civil Society Network had issued pre-admission notices to respondents till August 25 and also sought assistance from the federal and provincial law officers to decide the maintainability of the petition. Petitioner’s counsel Azhar Siddique had stated that Nawaz Sharif had been making mockery of the top court judges in his speeches during his four-day homecoming rally from Islamabad to Lahore. He added that former prime minister’s speeches against judges amount to contempt of court and a revolt against the constitution. Separately, the Sindh High Court on Friday also rejected a petition seeking action against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif under Article-6 of the constitution and orders to arrest him. A division bench of the SHC headed by Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh heard the petition filed by Bisma Naureen under Article 199 of the constitution. During the course of the hearing, the court observed that the petition contained mere allegations against the former prime minister. The court said that it had no powers to proceed on the petition. The court while advising the petitioner to approach Supreme Court rejected the petition. Published in Daily Times, August 19th 2017.