LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday disposed of a decade-old petition seeking treason proceedings against former prime minister Imran Khan for holding a sit-in and ‘inciting’ people to civil disobedience in 2014.

Late senior lawyer AK Dogar had filed the petition submitting that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf was going to hold a dharna again in Islamabad. He was of the view that PTI founding chairman Imran Khan wanted to create unrest and anarchy in the country.

On Monday, Advocate Abdullah Dogar, a son of the late lawyer, appeared before the court and stated that his father passed away in 2020.

The lawyer told the court that he did not want to pursue the petition rather sought permission to withdraw it.

At this, the court disposed of the petition for being withdrawn.

He alleged the PTI dharna would lead the country toward a non-stop unrest and anarchy.

In his arguments before a full bench during a 2016 hearing, the late lawyer had pleaded that the PTI founding chairman was no more loyal to the federal government and guilty of high treason.

He argued that an opposition had to be faithful to the government and should not try to destabilise it.

He said Mr Khan and his party workers tried to invade the parliament house making army to intervene and control the situation.

Assailing the PTI’s call for Islamabad lockdown, Advocate Dogar said a procession held with unconstitutional intentions fell within the definition of an unlawful assembly.

He had asked the court to restrain the PTI chief from unconstitutional act of locking the federal capital down.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2024

Opinion

Who bears the cost?

Who bears the cost?

This small window of low inflation should compel a rethink of how the authorities and employers understand the average household’s

Editorial

Internet restrictions
Updated 23 Dec, 2024

Internet restrictions

Notion that Pakistan enjoys unprecedented freedom of expression difficult to reconcile with the reality of restrictions.
Bangladesh reset
23 Dec, 2024

Bangladesh reset

THE vibes were positive during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent meeting with Bangladesh interim leader Dr...
Leaving home
23 Dec, 2024

Leaving home

FROM asylum seekers to economic migrants, the continuing exodus from Pakistan shows mass disillusionment with the...
Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...