Tag: court

  • Suspects surrender to police after killing two in court premises

    Suspects surrender to police after killing two in court premises

    Two persons were killed within the premises of a local court in Lahore on Thursday, Dawn has reported.

    According to police, the two slain were identified as Sughra Bibi and Muhammad Amin. The victims were present at the court for a hearing when they were shot dead.

    The Punjab Inspector General has instructed the police to catch the suspects as soon as possible and also find out their motive, however, the suspects turned themselves in after the incident and the weapons used in the crime were also found.

    They have been taken to the SP City Office for further investigation. They are being interrogated to determine if anyone else was involved, said police.

  • Indian court acquits 69 people of murder of 11 Muslims in Gujarat massacre trial

    Indian court acquits 69 people of murder of 11 Muslims in Gujarat massacre trial

    A court in India has declared 69 people, which includes a former minister from the ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), not guilty of the killing of 11 Muslims during communal riots in the western state of Gujarat in 2002.

    The case pertains to the killing of 11 Muslims who died in February 2002 during communal riots in Ahmedabad, when Hindu mobs set their homes on fire and rampaged through the city. An investigation into the attack found that the Muslims received no assistance from the police and were left at the mercy of the attackers.

    The Gujarat riots erupted after a train carriage carrying Hindu pilgrims being set on fire. Suspecting that Muslims had carried out the attack, Hindu groups started retaliatory attacks, and the incident soon turned into one of the most severe outbreaks of religious violence in India’s history after independence. While the official death toll of the violence was approximately 1,000 people, with most of the victims being Muslims, non-governmental organizations argue that the actual number of casualties was much greate

  • ‘Breaking of my gate was a clear violation of sanctity of chadar and chardiwari’: Khan writes to CJP Bandial

    ‘Breaking of my gate was a clear violation of sanctity of chadar and chardiwari’: Khan writes to CJP Bandial

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has written a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday, claiming that the events of Saturday — when his house was raided by the Punjab Police while he was at Islamabad Judicial Complex for his court hearing in the Toshakhana case — were evidence that a plot to assassinate him was afoot.

    “With no security provided to me and with one assassination plot already attempted against my life in Wazirabad, I have been placing my life at risk every time I have to make a court appearance,” wrote Khan.

    Imran Khan, in his letter, stated that his life is risk so he has been consistently requesting for video link facility from courts for multiple court appearances.

    “When we arrived in Islamabad and were moving towards the judicial complex, we were trapped on all sides by containers to block my arrival at the complex and before the magistrate to deliberately try and create a false situation of no show”.

    “To provoke the mass of people gathered in support, the police and Rangers resorted to tear gas and baton charge against ordinary unarmed citizens and the PTI leadership accompanying me. What was worse was the police stationed on the roof of the complex started hurling stones into the crowds (videos are all available). When I was halfway through the gate of the complex the police attacked the workers around my car without any provocation.”

    Khan added that while PTI lawyers were not allowed inside the complex and “beaten back from the door”, about 20 or more unknown (Namaloom) people — who were neither wearing any uniforms nor had any identity displayed — were allowed inside. “This was clearly done to allow them to assassinate me.”

    “While I was facing all this in Islamabad, my house was assaulted in Zaman Park by the Punjab police in complete violation of the orders passed by the Honourable Lahore High Court.”

    Khan talking about his wife, Bushra Bibi — a very private, non-political person — was alone in the house at that time with a couple of domestic staff members, wrote: “The breaking of my gate and illegal entry by a group of armed police was also a clear violation of the Islamic principle of sanctity of chadar and chardiwari.”

    He concluded his letter with the request of a “proper investigation” be conducted into these events.

    However, after blaming namaloom afrad [unknown people] Khan deleted a tweet from his Twitter account, where he had posted a video of a man alleged to be a PTI worker, whom he mistook for being one of the people present there to attack him.

  • Chief Justice praises video link facility

    Chief Justice praises video link facility

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial praised the video link facility in the court, stressing that citizens should use it. The facility provides ease to citizens so that they can appear before the court virtually.

    Addressing a ceremony at the Supreme Court Quetta Registry, he urged the lawyers present there to avail the facility as it is “useful”.

    He said that he is aware that going back and forth for hearings by road has become quite expensive. “I am sorry even airplane ticket has become unaffordable”, he added.

    He said Supreme Court (SC) has only 5-6 benches and when thousands of cases are filed before them, it becomes very difficult to deal with urgent cases.

    According to him, the apex court jots down cases and gives preference to liberty cases and criminals who have been imprisoned for years.

  • Khan’s arrest warrants finally cancelled

    Khan’s arrest warrants finally cancelled

    After much chaos, drama in Lahore and Islamabad, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest warrants in Toshakhana case were cancelled on Saturday by the Islamabad sessions court.

    The hearing was adjourned till March 30 (Thursday) due to the turbulence and chaos witnessed today, with the judge ordering Imran to appear in personal capacity in the next hearing.

    Imran Khan allowed to mark attendance in car

    Prior to this, Khan arrived at the Islamabad Judicial Complex but didn’t go inside due to security concerns.

    Amid unruly crowds and security concerns, the judge gave permission that Khan can mark his attendance while sitting in the car which he did and then left for Lahore.

    After Lahore, clashes erupt in Islamabad

    PTI supporters started throwing stones at the Islamabad police in the capital when Imran Khan made his way to court for a hearing of the Toshakhana case.

    In the video, supporters carrying sticks can be seen attacking police cars.

    ‘Part of London plan’: Imran lashes out after police raids his Zaman Park residence

    Khan lashed out at Punjab police for raiding his house in Zaman Park, Lahore.

    “Meanwhile Punjab police have led an assault on my house in Zaman Park where Bushra Begum is alone,” he said in a tweet.

    “Under what law are they doing this? This is part of London Plan where commitments were made to bring absconder Nawaz Sharif to power as quid pro quo for agreeing to one appointment.”

    The operation is over, however, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah alleged that contraband was discovered at Khan’s residence

    Police broke into the house in Zaman Park, Lahore, after claiming that they were fired at from inside the house. Using heavy machinery, police smashed the entrance of the house and entered into the premises.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, in a tweet, accused Khan of using people as human shields.

    He said that “from using people as human shields to throwing petrol bombs at police to leading ‘jathas’ to intimidate judiciary, he has taken a leaf out of the RSS book.”

    Where is Bushra Bibi?

    Later in the evening, Khan’s sister came forward to give her side of the story of the unfolding situation after police raided her brother’s house in Zaman Park.

    She said that Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi is still inside the house in Zaman Park.

    Khan’s sister said that police aggressively broke into Khan’s house and they even took away some children who were present at home at the time.

    ‘Inhon ne pura plan banaya huva hai mujhe arrest karne ka’: Imran Khan

    Earlier in the day, when Imran was en route to Islamabad, he claimed that he is aware that the government will arrest him.

    “I am going to court despite knowing they’ll arrest me because I believe in the rule of law.”

    He mentioned being delayed due to an accident and claimed that a premeditated plan to arrest him is in place, alleging that it is part of a larger “London Plan” orchestrated by former PM Nawaz Sharif.

    In line with PTI’s insistence that Khan’s life is in danger and he needs security, Islamabad Chief Commissioner shifted the hearing from F-8 Court Complex to the Judicial Complex in G-11.

  • Will stop police from arresting Khan if he surrenders, says court

    Will stop police from arresting Khan if he surrenders, says court

    An Islamabad court said on Thursday that it can ask Islamabad police not to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan if he surrenders himself before the authorities.

    The judge passed the remarks while hearing the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) reference seeking criminal proceedings against Imran for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts.

    At the outset of the hearing, the PTI chief’s lawyer Khawaja Harris read out the IHC’s order on the party’s petition against the arrest warrants.

    In response, the judge said that the trial court has not received the IHC’s order through the official process, but noted that the issue can be resolved quickly and asked where Khan was.

    “Has Imran Khan presented himself before the court?” the judge asked. At this, Harris asked the judge whether it was important for the former prime minister to appear before the court in person.

    “We want Imran Khan to appear before the court. Why isn’t he presenting himself before us? What’s the reason?” he asked, noting that in line with the law, Khan should assist the police and not resist it.

    “Imran Khan created a scene by resisting [arrest],” the judge said, adding that the IHC’s order also mentions that the lower court’s order should not be affected through “illegal actions”.

    The judge remarked that there “would be no issue” if the warrants were bailable, but the warrants issued against Khan were non-bailable. “The arguments you have presented are related to bailable arrest warrants,” the judge told the lawyer.

    Harris then asked the judge whether he wanted to remain stern and keep Khan’s arrest warrants active. At this, the judge remarked that the warrants were issued to ensure Khan’s presence in person.

    The lawyer then added Khan himself has said that he wants to appear before the court and he is not seeking any exemptions.

    You have two options, Harris said, adding that the first option is to suspend the non-bailable warrant by accepting the undertaking request, and the second is to accept the surety and issue a bailable arrest warrant.

    PTI’s lawyers, requesting to suspend the arrest warrants, said that Khan wants to give an undertaking to the court that he will appear in the session court on March 18.

    The judge then said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should also be issued a notice. At this, the lawyer said that the court should issue the notice and summon the election commission today.

    Judge Iqbal also asked Khan’s counsel why the situation in Lahore’s Zaman Park was “bad”. “This warrant has become not only the most expensive in Pakistan but the world. The government has spent millions of rupees to follow through on this warrant.”

    Khan’s counsel lamented that whatever is happening at Zaman Park should not have taken place, and at this, the judge said that Khan should have been brought straight to the court.

    “It is not possible that Imran Khan is harassed when he appears before the court. We are a poor country and it is not feasible to spend millions of rupees on a warrant.”

    The judge added that if the PTI chief surrenders himself to the authorities, then he would tell the police to stand down and asked the counsel what could be amended in Khan’s warrants.

    Harris then pleaded that Khan is giving an undertaking and that the court should suspend his warrants. “The warrants were issued in line with the law, then why did [authorities] face resistance? It is the nation’s money. The most you could have done was to hold a peaceful protest.”

    The judge said in criminal cases, suspects appear before the court and once they do, the non-bailable arrest warrants are suspended. “The police can’t sit idle when arrest warrants are issued for March 18.”

    The judge then added that he was issuing a notice to the ECP and adjourned the hearing till 12pm.

  • NAB is talking about 10 billion, my entire family doesn’t have 10 billion: Usman Buzdar

    NAB is talking about 10 billion, my entire family doesn’t have 10 billion: Usman Buzdar

    Former Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Buzdar has said on Monday that it is a strange thing that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is talking about 10 billion, while his entire family’s assets aren’t even worth 10 billion.

    Speaking outside of the Accountability Court in Lahore where he had appeared in an assets beyond means case, Buzdar said that the bureau is making cases against him, his family, and his friends. He challenged NAB, saying that he will file a case against it hoping that he will get relief from the courts.

    When asked about former CM Punjab Pervaiz Elahi, who recently joined PTI, Buzdar seemed to avoid answering directly, stating that since he is standing outside of the court, there should be no talk or discussion related to politics.

    Buzdar has been given an extension in his interim bail till March 7.

    The court also ordered him to become part of the NAB investigation and warned him that if he didn’t do it then the court will not provide him relief. 

    The accountability court also scolded the NAB prosecutor for not providing an inquiry copy to Buzdar and said that the accused should know what he is accused of. The lawyer informed the court that a written document was sent to Buzdar but he did not become part of the investigation.

  • Asad Umar’s wife denies filing paperwork for husband’s release

    Asad Umar’s wife denies filing paperwork for husband’s release

    Asad Umar’s wife Sofia Asad has rejected reports of filing a petition seeking the release of her husband who volunteered for arrest three days ago under the party’s “Jail Bharo Tehreek” on the call of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.

    Stating that Asad Umar is engaged in the struggle for the “real freedom of the nation”, Sofia Asad said that reports about the request for his bail or release were wrongly attributed to her.

    She also said that she supports her husband completely. However, she admitted to approaching the Lahore High Court (LHC) to get authentic information regarding Asad’s whereabouts.

    Earlier, it was reported that the PTI leader’s wife filed a petition in LHC for her husband’s recovery from “illegal and unlawful” custody of the Lahore police.

    On Saturday, PTI senior leader Fawad Chaudhry claimed that, “35 PTI workers rejected the government’s offer of release, the leadership also refused to give requests for their release.”

    It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI leaders — including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Azam Swati, and other senior members— were taken into police custody from Lahore on Wednesday on the day the Jail Bharo Tehreek began.

    On Friday, Zulfi Bukhari and Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan were also arrested from Rawalpindi.

  • Sheikh Rashid to be formally charged on March 2 in Zardari allegations case

    Awami Muslim League (AML) chief and former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid will be formally charged on March 2 by a district and sessions court in Islamabad for accusing former President Asif Ali Zardari of plotting an assassination attempt on Imran Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    The court has also ordered that the former interior minister’s appears before the judge on the said date.

    Rashid requested the court to set March 15 as the date for indictment. However, the judge said that the high court has given its orders and the date cannot be extended.

    Court grants bail to Sheikh Rasheed in Zardari remarks case

    On Thursday, Rashid was granted bail in this case by Islamabad High Court (IHC).

    The high court approved his application and passed an order to submit surety bonds worth Rs50,000.

    Earlier, a district and sessions court of Islamabad rejected his bail, after which he approached the high court.

    In the early hours of February 2, Rashid was arrested from his home in Islamabad and was later handed over to police on a two-day physical remand.

    Rashid was also booked in another case in Karachi for allegedly using inappropriate language against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

  • CM should always have the support of majority in house: Court

    A five-member bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday (today) heard Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s plea challenging Governor Balighur Rehman’s orders to de-notify him as CM.

    During the hearing, Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh remarked that the governor can ask a chief minister to take a vote of confidence from the assembly.

    While Elahi’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar responded that his client became the chief minister by taking votes in the assembly, Justice Hafeez said that the chief minister should always have the support of the majority of the lawmakers (186 members) in the house.

    At one point, Justice Sheikh said that if a consensus could not be reached between the governor and the chief minister, then the case would be heard on “merit”.

    “The matter has now prolonged beyond a reasonable time,” he remarked, adding that the court would have to look at assembly dissolution, violation of the governor’s orders, and the way forward.

    In the late hours of December 22, Rehman denotified Elahi as CM. At the time, the governor had said that since the chief minister had refrained from taking a vote of confidence at the appo­i­nted day and time, he ceased to hold office.

    Subsequently, Elahi approached the court, saying the move was “unconstitutional, unlawful and of no legal effect”.

    LHC later reinstated Elahi as the chief minister after he assured the court that he would not dissolve the Punjab Assembly until the next hearing, which was held today.

    This a developing story.