LHC directs Imran's lawyer to confirm police deployment at Zaman Park

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court's (LHC) Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh on Monday directed the counsel of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to visit former prime minister Imran Khan's residence in Zaman Park to confirm police deployment to ensure his security.

Earlier, the court sought a report from police high-ups on a plea filed by the PTI chief seeking “foolproof security and permission to mark his attendance in court’s proceedings through video link".

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During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel advocate Azhar Siddique told the court that "not even a single police official" was deployed despite an agreement with the police high-ups, local administration and PTI leadership in which the police had ensured security to the PTI chairman.

The counsel argued that illegal acts were committed at Zaman Park, to which Justice Sheikh said that the case in court is not about Zaman Park. He adjourned the court proceedings till the afternoon, directing the police officials to prepare a report detailing the security measures taken.

After the proceedings commenced this afternoon, the police informed the court that 123 police officials have been deployed at Imran's residence. "There are 35 police personnel present every shift," the law officer said.

However, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi contradicted the police's statement, claiming that there was no security being provided for the time being.

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Justice Abid Aziz adjourned the proceedings to March 21 with the direction to advocate Azhar Siddique to visit the site for satisfaction. The court further ordered the police to submit a report on the matter by tomorrow.

Petition

In his petition, Imran had requested the court to direct the concerned quarters not to take any adverse action against him or make his arrest till he is provided proper security arrangements for court attendance and appearances.

Sharing information from what he said were his credible sources, the PTI chief contended in his petition that he "would yet again be targeted during his exposure in the court hearings and appearances”.

Imran submitted that his popularity in the political arena has become a cause of concern for his political adversaries who after the failure of several criminal cases have now resorted to the opinion of eliminating him altogether from the political scene as final disposal.

The former premier contended that since he was ousted from the government, the present regime lodged a series of bogus cases against him and his party's senior leadership, who have also been subjected to torture on the basis of serious charges like sedition and mutiny.

He claimed that state machinery was misused with the sole objective of "political victimization and score-settling". Aggrieved at the malicious campaign launched against him and senior party members by registering baseless and false cases across Pakistan, he said the PTI decided to protest against the incumbent Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and announced the “Haqeeqi Azadi March”.

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The Azadi March received an extraordinary response which disturbed and became a cause of concern for the political rivals, said the petitioner. He noted that as a result, "a pre-planned murderous assassination attempt was made" on November 3, 2022, specifically targeting the PTI chief and left him "critically wounded". Despite his serious apprehensions, the petitioner claimed that he was not provided adequate security.

Imran contended that the assassination attempt was "properly planned and executed" at the behest of his political adversaries who were getting increasingly threatened by the PTI chief's immense popularity as the petitioner and his party were gaining popularity at both the national and international levels.

In his petition, Imran said that he has always emphasized the supremacy of the constitution and rule of law, demonstrated utmost respect of the courts, and despite registration of innumerable false and frivolous cases chose to not only join the inquiry and investigation but also regularly appeared before the court where his physical presence was necessary.

The petitioner was witnessed appearing before the Anti-Terrorism Court, banking court, judicial complex, and LHC. Prior to the assassination attempt on his life, Imran noted that he never hesitated from performing his legal obligations.

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According to his plea, Imran wishes to fight against "politically motivated cases" but has been unable to attend some hearings physically due to "inadequate and improper arrangements".

The petitioner claimed that despite a failed assassination attempt that left him "critically wounded" and despite "several demands to provide proper and inadequate security," the respondents are deliberately exposing him so that he may fall prey to any attack that may be launched or directed towards him.

The PTI chief requested the court to direct the concerned quarters to provide him with foolproof security and permission to mark attendance into court proceedings through a video link to avoid further untoward incidents.

He also sought strict action against the respondents for "failing to maintain law and order in court premises" during his court proceedings. The petition further sought “no adverse action and no arrest” till Imran is properly facilitated and provided proper security arrangements for court attendance and appearances.