LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) issued orders to the Punjab police on Tuesday, prohibiting them from “harassing” Imran Khan and instructing them to ensure the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is treated in accordance with the law.
The orders were given by a five-judge bench while hearing Khan’s petition that sought to prevent the authorities in Punjab from launching a police operation at his Zaman Park residence or arresting him based on an “undisclosed” first information report (FIR) during court closure.
The bench — comprising justices Ali Baqar Najafi, Aalia Neelum, Tariq Saleem Sheikh, Anwaar ul-Haq Pannun, and Muhammad Amjad Rafiq — heard the plea filed by Salman Safdar and Azhar Siddique.
Prior to the proceedings, Khan appeared at the court, surrounded by several guards who covered his face with bulletproof shields.
During the hearing, Safdar informed the court that multiple cases were being lodged against his client, one after another. He said that in Punjab alone, 80 cases have been registered against Khan. Justice Najafi also referred to the three-day-long police action outside his residence last month, which had resulted in violent clashes between officials and PTI supporters.
The lawyer further said that his client had received credible information regarding another police operation outside Zaman Park during the Eid holidays.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government’s lawyer, Ghulam Sarwar, asked Khan to present evidence supporting his claim in court, saying that the law is equal for everyone. Sarwar also pointed out that there was nothing on record regarding an operation.
Justice Sheikh asked if there was a statement that no action would be taken in old cases registered against Khan. To this, Sarwar replied that action in cases in which legal proceedings were underway would continue.
At one point during the hearing, Khan himself spoke and claimed that he hadn’t broken a single law in his life, yet hundreds of cases had been registered against him. Justice Najafi remarked the court did not think an operation would take place in the upcoming five to six days, and the proceedings have been adjourned until May 2.
