LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday overruled an office objection to a petition of incarcerated PTI founding chairman Imran Khan seeking details of cases and inquiries against him.

The registrar office objected to the petition on the point of territorial jurisdiction asking the petitioner to approach the Islamabad High Court instead.

However, a two-judge bench comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Anwarul Haq Pannun removed the office objection with a direction to fix the petition for hearing.

The petition argues that the PTI founder is being implicated in new cases on political grounds despite suspension of his sentences in a number of cases.

It says the petitioner apprehends humiliation and disrespect through implication in more false cases, he wants the court to prevent the abuse of process of law and safeguard against the violations of fundamental rights.

It states that the petitioner intends to ascertain the number and nature of the cases and inquiries pending against him.

The petition asks the court to summon the details of all cases against the former premier and also issue an order preventing his arrest in any undisclosed case.

It further urges the court to restrain the respondents from arresting the petitioner till the time a list of all cases including particulars in nature is furnished to him.

The NAB, FIA, IGP, ACE and others have been listed as respondents in the petition.

QURESHI: Justice Anwarul Haq Pannun of the Lahore High Court on Thursday sought a report from the Kot Lakhpat Jail superintendent on a petition against denial of permission to meet former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the jail.

Punjab Assistant Advocate General Farrukh Lodhi sought time to submit a reply on behalf of the jail superintendent.

The judge adjourned the hearing till Aug 5.

Former MPA Muhammad Abbas, who filed the petition, stated that he wanted to meet Mr Qureshi in jail, but the authorities were not allowing the meeting.

Separately, an anti-terrorism court summoned prosecution witnesses for cross-examination in the Shadman police station attack case against former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other PTI leaders.

Judge Khalid Arshad conducted the hearing at Kot Lakhpat Jail, where the incarcerated suspects, Mr Qureshi, were presented. Other suspects released on bail also appeared in the court.

The judge directed the prosecution to present its witnesses for cross-examination on Aug 5.

Shadman police had registered a case against the PTI leaders and activists on charges of attacking and burning the police station during the May 9 riots following the arrest of former premier Imran Khan in a graft case by the National Accountability Bureau.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2024