‘Provocative speech’: LHC bench refers Malik Ishaq’s case to chief justice

Ishaq said the police were the complainant in both cases but had no witness to the incident.

LAHORE:

A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Thursday referred bail application of Malik Ishaq, leader of a banned outfit, to the LHC chief justice, requesting him to fix it before another bench.  

The bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Anwaarul Haq and Justice Abdul Sattar Asghar observed that it was tasked with hearing matters regarding narcotics but the present matter dealt with anti-terrorism and should be heard by an appropriate bench.

Malik Ishaq has submitted that the police had registered two cases against him for making provocative speeches at Jamia Masjid Qadeer, Darya Khan in Bhakkar under Anti-Terrorism Act.

He said an ATC in Sargodha had dismissed his bail applications in both cases.

He said the police were the complainant in both the cases but had no witness to the incident.

He requested the court to grant him bail in both cases by setting aside the ATC order.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2014.