Pakistan: 2 ex-PMs to appear in court over treason case

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Two former Pakistani prime ministers, Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, will appear before a court on Monday for a hearing on a treason case, local media reported.

Sharif has been charged with treason for his controversial July interview with local daily Dawn, in which he accused the country's security agencies of turning a blind eye to the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Over 150 people were killed in the deadly attacks for which New Delhi blames Pakistani intelligence agencies. Islamabad, however, denies any involvement.

Abbasi, who served as premier for eight months following the disqualification of his predecessor Sharif due to a corruption case, has been charged with "facilitating" the controversial interview.

The interviewer Cyril Almeida is also among the accused.

All the three accused will appear before a full bench of the Lahore High Court, local broadcaster Dunya TV reported.

Sharif who served as premier for three terms, was sentenced to 10 years in jail last July but was released on bail after the Islamabad High Court suspended the sentence last month.

He remains embroiled in another two corruption cases.