Politicians rely on wheels of justice

Rival alliances take turns in alleging victimisation, seeking relief

LAHORE:

The political leaders kept taking their battle for rule over Punjab to the courts throughout the previous year.

Almost every major political development in the province during the period was accompanied by litigation.

The PTI-led coalition and the PML-N and its allies clinched the post of chief minister from each other through legal battles. As the fortunes swung, at times PML-N lawmakers were seen approaching the courts for bail and on other occasions legislators representing the PTI and PML-Q found themselves in their place.

However, both the rival sides accused each other of implicating them in cases for political victimisation.

Some legal experts claimed that in addition to political matters, a number of PML-N leaders faced cases under money laundering and other charges, but the proceedings were mostly dropped.

Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif, former PM Imran Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, former CM Hamza Shehbaz, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, former interior minister Sheikh Rashid, Sindh Assembly Opposition Leader Haleem Adil Sheikh and former Punjab Assembly deputy speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari were among the leaders whose cases were heard.

On October 12, a special court acquitted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamaza in a money laundering case after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) gave a clean chit to him. On December 23, the prime minister's son, Suleman Shehbaz, was granted pre-arrest bail in the same case.

Earlier, on September 3, a bench headed by Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti directed the deputy registrar (judicial) to return the passport of PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) did not oppose the request. It was her second attempt to receive her passport.

On December 10, a special court acquitted the interior minister and five others of a drug case registered by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) after witnesses withdrew their statements.

On November 7, an LHC division bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi had accepted the federal interior minister's plea seeking the closure of an assets-beyond-means inquiry against him.

On November 10, an anti-corruption court granted bail to former deputy speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari in a land case.

In September, some PML-N MPAs were granted bail after being accused of sabotaging the election process of Punjab Assembly speaker on July 29.

On May 25, the LHC chief justice imposed fine on Hamza Shehbaz, Dost Mazari and some others over not complying with court orders.

On August 29, a district court confirmed the bails of several PM-N leaders in a case registered against Maryam Nawaz and others over allegedly attacking the NAB office in Lahore.

In September, the district court confirmed bails of PML-N lawmakers in a case of allegedly creating chaos, brawl and hooliganism on the election day of the chief minister on April 16.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2023.