LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday cancelled the arrest warrants of PTI’s former MNA Aliya Hamza and social media activist Sanam Javed in the Shadman police station attack case of May 9 riots.

Judge Khalid Arshad adjourned the trial without any proceedings till Sept 9, saying: “Today, I am only adjourning the cases for the next date. I may relinquish my charge tomorrow following my transfer order.”

The Lahore High Court had on Aug 31 issued transfer/posting orders of 48 district and sessions judges, including ATC Judge Arshad.

During the hearing in Kot Lakhpat jail, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed dissatisfaction with the judge, saying: “We are disappointed that you (the judge) are moving on to a new duty, without deciding our bail petitions.”

However, Mr Qureshi expressed best wishes to the judge.

He went on to say: “Bail is our right, it is not like we are going to flee the country.”

At this, the judge observed, “The freedom that is thrust upon someone is not legally permissible. I have heard your fiery speeches. I am adjourning this case till Sept 9.”

In a sarcastic response, Mr Qureshi further requested the judge to fix the case for Sept 9, and not mix it up with 9/11.

PTI-Punjab President Dr Yasmin Rashid asked the judge to listen to her as well.

However, Judge Arshad advised her to speak before his successor.

Former governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema said they had been in jail for more than a year, and four judges had been transferred so far. He said on one hand, the government wanted the May 9 cases to be decided like those of Capitol Hill, but on the other, the cases were not being decided.

Talking to reporters, Dr Yasmin said if there was any evidence, they (PTI leaders) would have been convicted by now. She said they demanded a judicial commission be formed to thoroughly investigate the May 9 protests.

remand: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday granted a seven-day physical remand of two suspects to police in a case of alleged honey-trap and kidnap of a playwright.

The police presented the suspects, Hassan Shah and Rafiq alias Feeqi, before the court on completion of the process of their identification parade in jail.

The investigating officer told the court that the suspects had been recognised by the complainant, Khalilur Rehman Qamar, in the identification parade and their physical remand was required for investigation. He sought 20-day physical remand of the suspects.

However, Judge Irfan Haider allowed a seven-day remand to the police.

According to police, Hassan Shah, along with his accomplices, kidnapped Qamar and demanded a Rs10 million ransom.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2024