LHC judge seeks larger bench in case against Imran's nephew

A Lahore High Court (LHC) judge sought the formation of a larger bench on Wednesday to hear a plea concerning cases registered against Hassaan Niazi, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) focal person and nephew of party chief Imran Khan.

LHC's Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh sent a request to the high court's Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti proposing that a larger bench be constituted to hear the application filed by Niazi's mother seeking details of the cases registered against him.

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Petitioner Noreen Niazi sought the court's intervention against the "unlawful and arbitrary" attempts to arrest her son and requested that the LHC pass directions to Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab, CCPO Lahore and DIG Operations barring them from arresting, apprehending or abducting him.

She sought the court's indulgence in a "matter of grave and critical nature pertaining to Hassan Niazi who is unable to approach this court himself since he is imprisoned on the basis of a false and frivolous case".

The petition further implored the court to ensure the protection of "the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights" of the accused.

It was also brought to the court's attention that while the PTI focal person had been initially arrested under various charges registered against him at Ramna police station, he has been handed over to police officials of other districts under different FIRs every time he appears before a court.

"The respondent Punjab police and its functionaries since the establishment of the caretaker set up are hell-bent on harassing, blackmailing, pestering and chasing Hassan Niazi," the petition stated.

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Accusing the police of being "biased, partial and having vindictive political patronage", the petitioner contended that the law enforcement officials were "unwarrantedly, unjustly and unlawfully harassing" her son.

Notably, on March 20, Niazi was taken into custody by police outside the Judicial Complex in Islamabad.

Niazi's arrest came following the clashes that broke out between PTI workers and Islamabad police during Imran Khan's court appearance in the Toshakhana case two weeks ago.

He was reportedly present at the scene when the former prime minister arrived at the Judicial Complex.

Police sources had said that Niazi was apprehended in G-11 near the complex for his involvement in attacking law enforcement personnel and causing chaos in the federal capital.

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Later, a district and sessions court of Islamabad rejected the police’s request to extend his physical remand and sent him on a 14-day judicial remand. This has been challenged by the government.

Meanwhile, an Anti-Terrorism Court sent Niazi to jail earlier this week on a 14-day judicial remand in the Zille Shah murder case and also approved his two-day transit remand to transfer him to Karachi in another case.

Furthermore, a sedition case has been filed against him for 'inciting' people against the former and current army chiefs.