The Lahore High Court on Monday issued a notice to the federal government and directed the attorney general of Pakistan to assist the court on a petition against ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif.  Sharif issued a statement about Pakistan’s role in Mumbai attacks and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi endorsed this statement.  A full bench led by Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi was hearing the case. During the proceedings, Advocate Azhar Siddique argued on behalf of the petitioner and said that Nawaz Sharif gave an interview to an English newspaper and damaged the state institution by giving statement about the Mumbai attacks. He said PM Abbasi also disclosed minutes of the meeting of the National Security Council. The lawyer said that it was unlawful and against the decorum of the prime minister’s office. PM Abbasi, he said, conveyed to Nawaz Sharif everything that was discussed in the meeting. By doing so, he violated his oath.  The lawyer said that Nawaz Sharif committed sedition by rejecting the statement of the National Security of Council and was liable to action as directed in the Constitution as well as in Pakistan Penal Code. He prayed to the court to take stern action against Nawaz Sharif for trying to defame the state and state institutions through anti-state interview and Pemra for allowing broadcast of the same content. He also prayed to the court to take action against Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for violating his oath by disclosing minutes of NSC meeting and details to disqualified ex-prime minister.  –Staff Reporter

PHC closes down 307 quackery centres

The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) closed down 307 premises of quacks in 13 districts during the last week.  PHC teams visited 891 treatment centres and closed down 307 of them being run by quacks. Out of the total centres visited on the basis of the census, 274 quacks have quit quackery and started other businesses. The action, supported by the district administration and police, was taken in different parts of 13 districts like Toba Tek Singh, Bahawalnagar, Pakpattan, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujranwala, Layyah, Vehari, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Sialkot and Lahore. The maximum number of quacks’ businesses, that is 38, was sealed in Kasur. Also, 37 fake health centres were closed in Sheikhupura, 26 each in Rawalpindi and Gujranwala, 25 in Sargodha, 24 in Bahawalnagar, 22 each in Lahore and Pakpattan, 21 in DG Khan, and 20 each in Layyah and Vehari.  Since the Supreme Court orders, the PHC has sealed 3,032 of quackery outlets. Moreover, as per the data, 2,201 quacks have closed down their quackery centres and started other businesses. –Staff Reporter