A week of highs and lows

City courts remained the centre of attention due to verdicts on matters of public interest

LAHORE: City courts remained the centre of public attention this week due to proceedings and verdicts on political and religious parties, the gruesome killing of a Christian couple, and other matters of public interest.

On the one hand, the week proved opportune for leaders such as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Abdul Aleem Khan, who obtained bail from the Lahore High Court (LHC). Aleem's bail also shone a ray of hope upon the Khawaja brothers. It can be speculated that Aleem’s case has them believing that they may also be granted bail by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) which failed to provide substantial evidence in both cases against them.

Meanwhile, die-hard workers of Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) also rejoiced after LHC granted bails to party leaders Maulana Khadim Hussain Rizvi and Pir Afzal Qadri.

In contrast, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) opposition leaders Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Sharif failed to attend case proceedings, citing health reasons. Submitting applications through their counsels, they sought exemption from attending case proceedings.

Meanwhile, several PML-N leaders, including former federal minister Daniyal Aziz, knocked on LHC’s doors to challenge the Punjab Local Government Act 2019.

In a particularly perplexing turn of events, three girls filed a petition in LHC against the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for harassing their Chinese husbands. One girl sought directions for the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to prepare a CNIC with the name of her Chinese husband who had embraced Islam.

The women termed the campaign against such marriages as an attempt to damage ties between the two countries.

Some LHC cases are criticised when they are against politicians while some are applauded when in public interest. A temporary stay by LHC was highly appreciated by the public. LHC had issued the stay on government officials and politicians using treasury funds for personal reasons. The court ordered that government officials should not even have a cup of tea if it has been paid for by public funds.

Further, people are looking forward to the hearing on the skyrocketing prices of food items, its storage, substandard food items in markets and even the government's Ramazan bazaars. Comments made by the judges about the Punjab Food Authority’s incompetency have created hope among the people.

LHC is also hearing a case involving 56 companies. The petitioner has alleged that their constitution is illegal in light of the local government system. The court has sought a final report from the Punjab government in three weeks.

LHC also attracted public attention after two men, previously convicted by a trial court of burning a Christian couple alive in a brick kiln, were acquitted. The appeals of three other convicts were dismissed by the court which upheld their death sentences.

There was one particular verdict which drew a mixed reaction from lawyers. LHC had directed district and sessions judges to avoid transferring cases from one judge to another. Under the verdict, a district and sessions judge does not have the authority to transfer the case from one additional district and sessions judge to another. The only exception is entrustment of fresh cases in administrative capacity.

The petitioner had challenged a session judge's order regarding withdrawing bail from one court and then entrusting the same to another court. The petition further questioned how such orders are passed without referring to facts available on record.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2019.