LHC orders Marwat’s release from Kot Lakhpat Jail

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice President Sher Afzal Marwat after he was detained under 3-MPO.

Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry presided over the hearing of the petition praying for Marwat's release.

The petitioner's counsel, Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, apprised the court that Marwat was arrested after he addressed the lawyers and left the court premises.

Marwat was arrested merely on presumptions, adding that the detention was illegal and unlawful.

Additional Advocate General Punjab Mohsin Abbas apprised the court that the petitioner did not approach the relevant forum first and directly visited the LHC.

However, Justice Shehram after hearing detailed arguments set aside the notification and ordered to release the petitioner's real brother.

Petition
Petitioner Khalid Lateef Khan, brother of the detenue, filed this plea through senior lawyer Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa contending neither any FIR, arrest warrants nor detention order was showed despite repeated requests to the police officials by the lawyers who accompanied him.

The petitioner’s counsel pointed out that no such intelligence report whatsoever was available on record before Dec 14, 2023.

Arrest
Heavy police contingents on Dec 14 arrested Marwat under 3-MPO for the period of 30 days following intelligence reports that he had potential to gather a mob and attack government buildings, sensitive installations, and disturb peace endangering the life of innocent people.

Marwat was arrested from outside the LHC’s main gate located towards the GPO square after attending a lawyer’s convention.

The officials forcefully took him towards their vehicle where reportedly he was first taken to the Mozang police station and then shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail.

After being released later in the evening, Marwat said that he was “treated badly” in jail.

Read more PTI’s Marwat arrested, shifted to Kot Lakhpat

May 25 vandalism case

Separately, a district and sessions court acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and former federal minister Asad Umar in a case pertaining to alleged vandalism during the party’s long march on May 25.

Civil Judge Naveed Khan heard the case, which was registered against the PTI founder at the Koral police station.

The court acquitted Imran and the former federal minister whereas the case was adjourned against the other accused persons till Feb 24.

It was alleged in the case that former PTI chairman, Asad Umar, Shah Mahmood. Qureshi, Faisal Javed, Ali Nawaz Awan, Ali Amin Gandapur and Raja Khurram Nawaz instigated protesters.

Unlawful marriage case

Further, a local court issued an order to conduct an open trial of the alleged unlawful marriage case against former PTI chairman Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi at a safe place, declaring that the federal government can allocate any safe place, including the Adiala Jail, for the purpose.

Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah heard the alleged unlawful marriage case against the former PTI chairman and Bushra.

Petitioner Khawar Manika's lawyer Rizwan Abbasi, who was present in court, pleaded for a jail trial.

The court said that the attendance and hearing would be conducted through video link.

During the hearing, it was stated in the request for exemption from appearance of Bushra that she could not appear in the court due to ill health.

The court said that the ex-PTI chairman was in jail while Bushra was not.

The lawyer took the stand that Bushra would appear on the next hearing, adding that the bail bonds were ready but could not be signed.

The court said that if Bushra was really ill, then she should get attach her medical treatment report with the request for exemption.

Later, the court received a report from the Adiala Jail superintendent regarding the appearance of the former chairman of PTI in the court.

In the report, the superintendent expressed his regret for not presenting the ex-PTI chairman in the court, saying that due to security reasons, he could not be brought to the court.

After receiving the report, the court adjourned the hearing till Dec 22.