LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday ordered the authorities to not “harass” the former Prime Minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan, instructing them to ensure that the former premier was treated as per the law.
The court earlier reserved its verdict on the petition filed by Khan.
A five-member bench that was handling Imran’s appeal to stop Punjabi authorities from conducting a police operation at his Zaman Park home or detaining him after the courts close on the basis of a “undisclosed” first information report (FIR) issued the directives.
The plea, filed by Barrister Salman Safdar and Advocate Azhar Siddique, was heard by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, Justice Aalia Neelum, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, Justice Anwaarul Haq Pannun and Justice Muhammad Amjad Rafiq.
The PTI chief appeared at the court himself for the hearing along with other leaders of his party.
Earlier, the PTI chief file a petition in LHC pleading that the “malice and ulterior motives of the Punjab police were evident from the fact that more than 140 cases” had been registered against him. “Hence, the grave misuse of Section 154 CrPC 1898, is apparent alone from the registration of numerous FIRs.”
It stated that the series of complaints registered against the complainant demonstrated the “hidden agenda of undue harassment and political victimization”.
Imran’s attorney Salman Safdar informed the court at the beginning of today’s hearing that numerous cases had been filed against his client.
Only in Punjab have 80 complaints been filed against Imran Khan, he claimed. “Courts have the ability to investigate police misconduct, and we want the bench to do the same in this case as well.”
Justice Najafi then stated that he had earlier voiced his displeasure with the circumstance outside Zaman Park.
The judge was referring to the three-day-long police action outside Imran’s residence last month. The operation had resulted in violent clashes between officials and PTI supporters, leaving dozens injured.
During the hearing today, the PTI chief’s lawyer said that his client had received credible information regarding another operation outside Zaman Park during the Eid holidays.
“Give us relief for five days,” he requested, saying that “for five days the doors of the court will be closed”.
“The doors of justice are never closed,” Justice Najafi replied.
