Book Imran only if he is guilty: LHC

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the police to discharge former prime minister Imran Khan from cases in which he is not guilty and to issue him a challan only if his guilt is established.

A larger LHC bench, led by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, on Monday also asked the head of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing various allegations against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief to appear in person by May 12 along with a comprehensive report.

It said the report must contain the current status of the investigation, including details of first information reports (FIRs) in which the PTI chief is nominated.

The bench was hearing the PTI chief’s plea seeking direction to the concerned quarters to not take any coercive measures in connection with the 121 FIRs registered against him.

During the proceedings, Justice Najafi observed that if Imran Khan’s guilt is proven then he must be challaned but he must be discharged from cases if he is innocent.

The law officer argued that the JIT had complied with the court's order by visiting the petitioner’s Zaman Park residence, where he joined the investigation. However, he said, it is a rare occurrence as there is no provision for an accused to summon the police to their residence for investigation.

Justice Anwaarul Haq Pannun and Justice Aalia Neelum remarked that everything is visible and that police officials had claimed that the accused had not joined the investigation before the court order.

Imran Khan's counsel Barrister Salman Safdar informed the court that police had recently registered ten cases against Imran in Lahore and two in Islamabad. He asked how a person could appear before investigators in all cases simultaneously.

 Safdar said irrelevant FIRs were being registered against his client on a daily basis. He requested the court to allow Imran to appear in the court through video link. “Your plea will be heard if found maintainable,” said Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, another member of the bench.

Imran Khan’s counsel argued that there were precedents for the appearance of an accused in court through video link. He urged the court to also permit the PTI chief to do so.

Justice Najafi advised Safdar to move applications for video link attendance in trial courts and urged him to avoid burdening the courts with unnecessary matters.

 “We do not want to see this system become hostage,” Justice Najafi said. “Five judges are hearing this matter, and there are other matters in our courts which need to be heard. Avoid burdening the courts.”

 The bench further ordered authorities to submit a comprehensive report and discharge Imran Khan from cases in which he is innocent.

 “We are giving you another opportunity to submit a comprehensive report and discharge Imran Khan from those cases in which he is not guilty and challan him if found guilty,” he said.