LAHORE: A larger bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC), headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, has directed concerned authorities to discharge former Prime Minister Imran Khan from cases in which he is not guilty and to issue a challan if guilt is established.
The bench also summoned the head of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in person by May 12 along with a comprehensive report containing the current status of the investigation, including details of FIRs in which the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman is nominated or where his arrest is required.
The bench was hearing the PTI chief’s plea on Monday seeking direction to concerned quarters to not take any coercive measures in connection with the 121 FIRs registered against him.
During the proceedings, Justice Najafi observed that if Imran Khan’s guilt is proven he must be challaned, but he must be discharged if he is is innocent.
As the hearing progressed, the bench discussed the progress of the investigation and the presence of investigation officers (IOs) in court.
The law officer argued that the investigation team had complied with the court’s order by visiting the petitioner’s Zaman Park residence, where he joined the investigation. However, it was noted that this is a rare occurrence, as there is no provision for an accused to summon the police to their residence for investigation.
Justice Anwaarul Haq Pannun and Justice Aalia Neelum remarked that everything is visible from both sides and that police officials had claimed that the accused had not joined the investigation before the court order.
Imran Khan’s counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, informed the court about ten cases in Lahore and two in Islamabad involving Imran Khan, questioning how a person could appear in all cases simultaneously. Safdar highlighted the registration of irrelevant FIRs against his client and requested video link attendance for court proceedings.
“Your plea will be heard if found maintainable,” Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, another member of the bench, remarked.
Imran Khan’s counsel argued that there are precedents where courts had allowed attending proceedings through video link, and urged the court to also permit the PTI chief to do so.
Justice Najafi advised Safdar to move applications for video link attendance in trial courts and urged him to avoid burdening the courts with unnecessary matters.
“We do not want to see this system become hostage, and the other side may do the same by tomorrow,” Justice Najafi remarked. “We are five judges who are hearing this matter, and there are other matters in our courts which need to be heard. Avoid burdening the courts.”
The bench further ordered authorities to submit a comprehensive report and discharge Imran Khan from cases in which he is innocent.
“We are giving you another opportunity to submit comprehensive report and discharge Imran Khan from those cases in which he is not guilty and challan him if found guilty,” he said.
In previous proceedings, the PTI chairman had warned of a potential third assassination attempt, citing the previous incident in Wazirabad.
However, the bench had directed him to join the investigation into the cases after coordinating and deciding with the concerned quarters whether he will appear before the investigation team or the investigation team will visit his Zaman Park residence.
