LHC postpones hearing on alleged harassment case against Babar Azam

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The Lahore High Court (LHC) has adjourned the hearing of the alleged harassment case against former Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam.

The hearing, which took place in the Lahore High Court, was related to a petition filed in the harassment case against Babar Azam. During the session, the woman who was allegedly harassed also appeared in court.

In the absence of Babar Azam's senior lawyer, Barrister Haris Azmat, his junior lawyer requested to adjourn the case, which the court granted.

The court remarked that this case has been pending since 2021 and every time a request for postponement is made. The judge further stated to Babar Azam’s lawyer, "You have had a stay order since 2021, yet you do not appear in court."

The woman’s lawyer argued that this was a case of rape, alleging that Babar Azam had promised marriage and then assaulted her. The lawyer also claimed that the cricketer owed the woman Rs1.2 million.

The court granted the request for a postponement and adjourned the case until December 16, 2024. It also recommended sending the case file to Justice Asjad Javed Ghural for further proceedings.

It is important to note that this case was previously being heard in Justice Waheed Khan's court, where a stay order had been issued regarding the registration of the case against Babar Azam.

Previously the Lahore High Court had summoned the woman who filed a sexual harassment case against Pakistan cricket star Babar Azam for the next hearing on December 12.

The petitioner, Hamiza Mukhtar, had claimed that she and Babar Azam were in a relationship that lasted for a considerable period. She alleged that she had conceived during their relationship but was persuaded by Azam to abort the child.

According to Hamiza Mukhtar, Babar Azam had reassured her, promising to marry her and telling her it would not be good for their future if she gave birth before marriage.

Hamiza Mukhtar attached medical documents to the court, supporting her claims of the abortion and her relationship with Babar Azam. She stated that after realising she was being betrayed, she approached the Naseerabad police to file an FIR against Babar Azam. However, the matter was eventually resolved after Babar Azam promised to marry her.

However, Hamiza Mukhtar further maintained that after Babar Azam became a well-known cricket star, he ignored her and failed to honour his marriage promise.

She alleged that despite this, when she sought to file another FIR against Babar Azam for blackmail and fornication under the pretext of marriage, the police seemed unwilling to register the complaint.