LAHORE, Feb 20: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Wednesday adjourned hearing of a petition seeking reopening of 84-year-old case of Ghazi Ilamuddin Shaheed.

CJ Umar Ata Bandial heard arguments of petitioner’s counsel on the maintainability of the petition and postponed further hearing till March 14.

Ilamuddin had killed a Hindu publisher for disgracing Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and was sentenced to death by the then British judges of the LHC in 1929.

Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi of Save Judiciary Committee filed this petition through counsel Barrister Farooq Hasan.

The petitioner said Hindu publisher Raj Pal by disgracing the Holy Prophet in his book had himself invited his death. He said Ghazi Ilamuddin had no personal grudge against Pal and he acted only in love for the Holy Prophet like a true Muslim.

The petitioner requested the court to set aside the impugned order by exercising principles of review. He also prayed that Ilamuddin Shaheed be honoured with state awards being given in these types of cases at international level.

Citing an example of granting posthumous award in Ireland, the petitioner pleaded that the government be directed to arrange funeral of Ilamuddin Shaheed afresh with state protocol and declare him innocent.