The year of bails: city courts make history with exuberant ‘acts of mercy’

TLP leader Maulana Khadim Rizvi was also granted bail

LAHORE:

The city courts were in the public limelight over cases of the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s ( PML-N) top brass, three former prime ministers and one former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

The district courts in general and the Lahore High Court (LHC) in particular were in the public eye over the appearance of former prime ministers Mian Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former Chief Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif, former federal and provincial ministers and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) former ministers.

Some people often refer to 2019 as the “year of bails”. Even the thrice elected Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif bailed by the LHC on medical grounds, whereas his daughter, Maryam Nawaz was granted bail on November 4 by a LHC division bench in Chaudhary Sugar Mills Limited (CSML) case.



Bails of National Assembly Opposition Leader Shahbaz Sharif, former Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and  PML-N stalwart Hanif Abbasi were also approved by the courts.

Despite such exuberant acts of mercy, a commoner suffering from cancer did not get relief from the court over medical grounds.

A cancer patient’s plea for mercy

In November 2018, jail authorities submitted a medical report before the LHC stating concerns over the incarceration of the cancer-sick convict.

The report said, “Such patients are very prone to infectious diseases like cytomegalovirus, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis-C virus and it is recommended not to keep him inside the jail premises for the best health of the above said convicted prisoner.”

Though the defence counsel sought suspension of life sentence for the sick convict, the case was adjourned without stating the next date of hearing. Later several applications were submitted by the counsel seeking early hearing of the case which is still pending with no development.

Annoyed PML-N leaders

The year was mostly pleasant for most of the PML-N leaders however, it defied some too. The court dismissed the appeals for bail of the Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, former Federal Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and former Provincial Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique.

Bureaucrats questioned

The bails of former Principal Secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad and former Lahore Development Authority Director General Ahad Cheema are also pending in the LHC in the assets beyond means and misuse of authority cases, respectively.

Petitions against the premier

Several petitions were filed against Prime Minister Imran Khan seeking judgements against him in different cases including an order to disqualify him over hiding truth in his nomination papers. Some of these cases are still pending in the LHC.

PTI lawmakers enjoy bails

Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Provincial Ministers Aleem Khan and Sibtain Khan were granted bails in assets beyond means and awarding illegal contracts in minerals and mines cases, respectively.

Former President General (retd) Musharraf found guilty of sedition

The last month of the year proved to be the worst for former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.  The special court found him guilty of treason and awarded him a death penalty. The petitioner, Pervez Musharraf, had previously challenged the formation of special court in the LHC and had sought orders to stop trial in the same. He had contested that the prosecution team cannot be formulated without the approval of the federal cabinet. Later, a full bench was constituted to hear the case of Pervez Musharraf relating to the jurisdiction of the LHC on whether it can hear this matter or not.

PPP former Prime Minister nabbed

Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf is facing trial in the accountability court over illegally hiring more than 400 people in the Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO). The case has entered its final stage.

TLP leader’s bail approved

Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan’s (TLP) leader Maulana Khadim Rizvi was granted bail in a case registered against him for launching protests against the acquittal of Aasia Bibi last year.

Terrorists sentenced to death



Six accused of Sahiwal incident were acquitted by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in a case trialling the killing of the family. In another case, the convict of Chunian incident was awarded three times death penalty. Moreover, the facilitator of Data Darbar blast was given death row for 21 times by the ATC. Charges were also filed against Jamat-ud-Dawa’s Leader Hafiz Saeed over allegedly financing terrorism.

Session court trials

On October 30, accused PML-N Leader Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar, son in law of the former PM Nawaz Sharif was granted bail for delivering hate speech against the state institution.

Legal battle between Ali Zafar and Misha Shafi is also on-going in the district courts over allegations of sexual harassment.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2020.