LAHORE: The federal government informed the Lahore High Court on Tuesday that a committee holding inquiry into the news leak would conclude its proceedings within 10 days.

A law officer made the statement during the hearing of a petition challenging formation of an inquiry committee, headed by retired justice Amer Raza A. Khan, to investigate the scandal.

After the law officer`s statement, Chief Justice Mansoor AliShah adjourned the hearing to March 15.

Ilyas Khan, a PPP-affiliated lawyer, had filed a petition complaining that all members of the inquiry committee belonged to Punjab and had close relations with the Sharif family.

He alleged that the government showed mala fide intent by appointing a retired judge, instead of a sitting one, as head of the committee.

Ilyas Khan contended that the committee had no legal standing and hence a judicial commission, having representation of the four provinces, should be set up to probe the news leak.