LAHORE (DNA) – Ex-prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Dawn Assistant Editor Cyril Almeida on Monday appeared before Lahore High Court (LHC) in high treason case against them.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi heard the petition seeking treason case against former prime ministers Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Nawaz Sharif and journalist Cyril Almeida.

During the proceedings, Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer Naseer Bhutta submitted written response on the behalf of his client.

Previously, the court had ordered to withdraw arrest warrants of Almeida and also directed authorities concerned to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

Earlier this year, disqualified in Panama case Nawaz Sharif’s statement about the Mumbai attacks during an interview sparked a controversy across the country.

Following the interview, National Security Council (NSC) held a meeting to deliberate on the matter.

Civil society member Amina Malik approached the court and filed a petition seeking treason proceedings against Nawaz Sharif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Cyril Almeida. The plaintiff contended that Abbasi, who was prime minister at the time, called on Nawaz Sharif and shared minutes of NSC meeting with him.

This act was a clear violation of Abbasi’s oath as PM, she said.

The petitioner also stated that Sharif had tried to defame the state institutions by issuing controversial statement about the Mumbai attacks.