LHC to announce verdict on Ahad Cheema’s petition

Earlier, bench had reserved decision after hearing arguments from both sides

LAHORE: A two-member bench led by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi of the Lahore High Court (LHC) will announce on Thursday (today) a verdict on Lahore Development Authority (LDA) former director Ahad Cheema’s petition, challenging his arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the alleged Ashiana Housing Scheme scandal.

Earlier, the bench had reserved the decision on the petition after hearing arguments from both sides.



The petitioner had challenged his arrest by the NAB contending no legal requirements were made in his arrest and NAB acted beyond its jurisdiction. The petitioner's counsel requested the court that Cheema was politically victimised through his arrest by the NAB. He further requested his arrest be declared null and void.

On the other hand, the NAB's counsel had pleaded that all legal requirements were completed in the said arrest, adding Cheema's application is not maintainable so it should be dismissed.

Proceedings adjourned till April 10

The Lahore High Court has fixed April 10 for further hearing on a petition filed by a relative of former police inspector Abid boxer, seeking his protection on the plea that police might kill him in a fake police encounter.

Boxer was arrested for his alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings and having connections with the underworld and land-grabbers.

Justice Anwarul Haq of the Lahore High Court took up the petition but the counsel for the petitioner did not appear before the court due to which the proceedings were adjourned.

Petitioner Jafar Rafi, the father in law of Boxer, had filed a petition through his counsel in LHC, contending the court that Boxer was arrested with the cooperation of Interpol in Dubai. He implored Boxer's life is in danger and they feared that he might be killed in fake encounter by police.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2018.