Assault on schoolteacher: LHC rejects bail plea of ex-PPP MPA

Madhyan had assaulted a 60-year-old schoolteacher in Sargodha, leaving him with two fractured legs.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court rejected the bail plea submitted to the court by former Pakistan People’s Party MPA Aslam Madhyana on Tuesday. Madhyana had assaulted 60-year-old schoolteacher Nafees Ahmad Khan in Sargodha, leaving him with two fractured legs.

Nafees, who is currently undergoing treatment, was also brought to the LHC on a stretcher.

The ex-MPA got his bail plea approved on March 5, 2012 and his lawyer came to the court today for its confirmation. But his plea was rejected because Madhyana did not appear before the court himself.

According to legal experts it is necessary for an accused to appear before the court in person in bail-related matters.

MPA’s counsel argued that his client has nothing to do with the incident as he was not physically present where the victim said the incident took place. He further alleged that the Punjab government was behind this accusation as it wants “to ruin Madhyana’s political career”.

Appearing before the court, the investigation officer said that inquiry into the matter revealed that the accused was directly involved in the incident as he was present on the occasion.

Punjab Prosecutor General Sadaqat Ali Khan, supporting the investigation officer, said that the accused deprived an elderly school teacher of both his legs. He called him a criminal stating that his previous record showed that more than 25 FIRs were registered against him.

After hearing the arguments, the bench headed by Justice Najamul Hasan rejected his bail plea and ordered the police to arrest him. However as he was not present in the court room, he could not be arrested.

Speaking to the media outside the LHC, Nafees said that earlier he had no hope for getting justice, but today’s hearing was a silver lining.

“If the big bosses [government] will keep backing these thieves, how will the common man get justice?” questioned the 60-year-old.

According to the case FIR, Madhyana’s men had come to beat Nafees again in Sargodha after he had “raised his voice against Madhyana’s criminal acts”.

The Supreme Court has also taken suo motu notice of the incident and has sought a report from the establishment secretary and all four provincial chief secretaries regarding measures taken to protect the lives, dignity and job security of civil servants. The provincial police chief will submit a report before the Supreme Court on the next date of hearing, March 28.