LAHORE, April 17, 2023: A two-member bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday referred a petition filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan seeking stay on action against him in 121 cases to the full bench for hearing.
In a note, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Justice Farooq Haider said the full bench was already hearing an identical petition. They requested the chief justice to fix this petition before the same bench for hearing.
At the outset of the hearing, Mr Khan’s lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar said cases were being registered against his client on a daily basis, adding that there were threats of arrest of the PTI chief. He pointed out that police were complainant in all cases, adding that police stations were being used for political point-scoring.
“It is impossible to face a plethora of case at the same time,” the lawyer said, adding that his client was to appear before courts in Islamabad in nine different cases.
He informed the two-judge bench about possible operation at Zaman Park in last days of Ramazan or during Eidul Fitr days to arrest the former premier.
At one point, the PTI chairman took to rostrum and told the court: “I have information that another operation will be launched at Zaman Park. I fear there will be bloodshed, therefore, I request you to stop any such operations.”
While referring to the ruling coalition, he said they wanted to eliminate him out of fear of defeat in elections. “Please stop them from such operations,” he pleaded.
Meanwhile, Punjab government’s counsel Ghulam Sarwar Nahang raised objection to the Mr Khan’s petition, arguing that it stated that the petitioner should not be arrested and cases should not be registered against him. He said police investigation could not be disrupted. He said the petition could not be filed on the basis of fears.
After hearing arguments, the bench referred the matter to chief justice to fix it before the full bench for hearing.
The PTI chief has made the federal secretary for the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Law, Ministry of Defence, Secretary Cabinet Division, Punjab Chief Secretary, Home Department Secretary, IG Punjab, Anti-Corruption Establishment DG, NAB and FIA parties in the petition.
He also made the prime minister of Pakistan, Pemra, and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as respondents in the petition which states 121 FIRs have so far been registered against Imran Khan in Quetta, Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.
He has pleaded the court to issue an order to stop the proceedings in the cases registered against him till the decision on his petition. He also sought an order to stop criminal proceedings against him without prior notice.