A Supreme Court bench on Monday disposed of the suo motu case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati, with judges observing that any aggrieved party could approach the alternative forum against the former minister.
Former chief justice Saqib Nisar had taken the suo motu notice after reports emerged that Swati, as minister in the then PTI-led government, misused his power by getting the then Islamabad police chief transferred because he had not followed his orders.
Then chief justice Saqib Nisar had formed a joint investigation committee (JIT) which submitted its report, noting that Swati was indeed responsible for "misuse of powers". The matter was taken up for hearing on Monday.
During the hearing, Justice Jamal Mandokhel questioned why Swati's properties were brought into a matter involving a criminal case against him. The judge also noted that Swati's actions as a minister at the time were not commendable.
On the occasion, public prosecutor informed the court the trial was under way on the criminal charges against Swati. Justice Aminuddin Khan directed that the tax and property matters against Swati should be referred to the department concerned.
He added that if there was an aggrieved party that should approach alternative forum against Swati and disposed of the suo motu notice.
The case stemmed from an incident in which Swati's employees had tortured a poor family, including children, over a trivial matter near his house in Islamabad. On that Swati had asked the Islamabad police chief to take action against the poor family.
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