LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday sought replies from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and other authorities for not allowing flying activities at the Walton airport for eight weeks despite an order.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi was hearing several contempt of court petitions seeking action against the civil aviation authorities for defying the court’s order.

Representing the petitioners, Advocate Zia Haider Rizvi stated that the court had on July 9 directed the CAA to allow the flying operations at the Walton airport initially for eight weeks till the facility was shifted to the new place.

However, he said, the respondents did not allow the flying operations in sheer defiance of the court’s order. He argued that the respondents committed a contempt of court and were liable to be punished under the law.

After hearing the contention of the counsel, Justice Najafi sought replies from the respondent by Sept 27.

The main petitions whereby the judge had allowed the operation were filed by the Lahore Flying Club, flight instructors at Walton airport and others. They had initially challenged the ordinance for taking over the airport being illegal. However, during the pendency of the petitions, the ordinance was converted into an Act after an approval by the provincial assembly.

The petitioners had submitted that the Walton airport was also an ideal location for air ambulances in case of any emergency or disaster in the province and within a few minutes travel to major hospitals in Lahore and any unwanted and disastrous situation can be mitigated through the use of above-mentioned land.

Minar-i-Pakistan case: A judicial magistrate on Monday denied police further custody of six suspects in the Minar-i-Pakistan assault case and sent the suspects to jail on judicial remand.

Lorry Adda police produced the suspects before the court and sought their further custody.

However, Judicial Magistrate Hassan Sarfraz Cheema turned down the request and sent the suspects to jail on judicial remand. The suspects include Sheharyar, Mehran, Abid, Arsalan, Sajid and Iftikhar.

Police had registered the first information report under various sections against 400 unidentified persons for assaulting the complainant, molesting her and stripping her clothes.

RICKSHAW: A judicial magistrate at the district court refused to extend physical remand of four suspects in the case of sexual harassment of a girl travelling in a motorcycle-rickshaw.

Police produced the suspects before the court and sought further physical remand to complete investigation. Judicial Magistrate Hassan Sarfraz Cheema rejected the request and sent the suspects to jail on judicial remand. The suspects were identified as Usman, Irfan, Abdul Rehman and Sajid.

The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) had arrested them from Sheikhupura and Jaranwala. They along with other accomplices had come to Lahore on the eve of the Independence Day. However, the key suspect, who jumped onto the moving motorcycle-rickshaw and kissed the girl, is still at large. The suspects were traced through the video clips and the CCTV cameras of the Safe City Authority.

BAIL: A sessions court confirmed the interim pre-arrest bail of MPA Khurram Leghari, also a member of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s leader Jahangir Tareen’s group, in a case of harassing and blackmailing a woman.

Defence-A police had registered the FIR against Leghari on the complaint of Amna Yaqoob. The complainant’s counsel told the court that his client had no objection to the bail of the suspect as she had withdrawn her complaint.

The woman had alleged that Leghari had been extending life threats to her and pressurizing her to establish relations with him. She said the MPA had tried to enter her residence and opened fire on her security guards.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2021