Posts in category: Crime & Court

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday summoned Islamabad Inspector General of Police Muhammad Sohail Chaudhry and issued show-cause notices to two senior police officials over the repeated failure to produce the case record in a security breach case against lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha.

The case relates to allegations that the couple removed security barriers from the designated route of an international cricket team, disrupted security arrangements and incited public unrest. Both were indicted in the case on October 7.

During the hearing, ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain expressed serious displeasure over the investigating officer’s continued absence and the non-production of the case record, which had prevented the proceedings from moving forward.

The court was informed that the investigating officer had travelled to Gilgit-Baltistan and had not returned. The judge subsequently summoned the superintendent of police (investigation) to explain the delay.

Advocate Riasat Ali Azad, representing the accused, informed the court that the bail application had been filed on October 29 last year and notices had already been issued. However, the matter remained pending because the investigating officer had repeatedly failed to appear with the relevant record.

The defence counsel argued that another police official could have produced the record in the investigating officer’s absence, as was customary in similar cases. He urged the court to proceed with a decision in accordance with the law rather than allow further delays.

Islamabad Bar Council Vice Chairman Advocate Asif Irfan also questioned the continued failure to obtain the record, observing that the court possessed sufficient authority to ensure compliance.

Advocate Aleem Abbasi called on the judge to exercise his judicial powers and decide the matter on merit. He maintained that the legal fraternity stood firmly behind judicial independence but raised concerns over the inability of lawyers to secure justice for their own children when proceedings remained stalled.

Advocate Zafar Khokhar similarly questioned the legal justification for an investigating officer taking the case record away while judicial proceedings were pending.

Also Read: IHC Admits Sentence Suspension Petitions of Iman Mazari and Hadi Chattha

Responding to the lawyers’ arguments, Judge Zulqarnain expressed displeasure over the tone adopted by some counsel, describing it as inappropriate. He maintained that his judicial decisions were not influenced by vlogs or public commentary and that he conducted proceedings impartially.

Following a brief adjournment, Superintendent of Police Khurram Ashraf and Deputy Superintendent of Police Naeem Yousuf appeared before the court.

SP Ashraf informed the judge that the investigating officer had travelled to Khaplu and would appear upon his return. When the court sought a definite timeline, DSP Yousuf stated that the officer could take another 10 to 15 days to return.

The judge strongly criticised the police over the prolonged delays, questioning why judicial proceedings should remain suspended because of the investigating officer’s absence.

During the hearing, Judge Zulqarnain also expressed concern over the prolonged hardship faced by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers due to delays in their cases and allegations of harassment. He subsequently ordered the discharge of several individuals arrested in connection with the party’s long march.

The court issued show-cause notices to SP Khurram Ashraf and DSP Naeem Yousuf, directing them to explain their failure to ensure production of the case record. The judge warned that continued non-compliance could result in proceedings leading to their imprisonment.

Islamabad Inspector General of Police Muhammad Sohail Chaudhry was also summoned to appear before the court at the next hearing, scheduled for November 3.

LAHORE — A 20-year-old woman from Azerbaijan was allegedly gang-raped in the Defense area of Lahore, police revealed.

According to police officials, the victim had arrived in Pakistan for business purposes and had been residing near Raiwind Road for the past 15 days. On Friday evening, two unidentified women invited her for dinner. The victim accompanied them to a cafe, where three men were already present.

After having dinner, the entire group took the foreign national to an apartment. Upon reaching the flat, the three men allegedly sexually assaulted her. Following the alleged assault, the suspects dropped the victim near the airport and fled the scene.

Police have registered a case regarding the gang rape of the foreign national. An investigation into the matter is currently underway, and law enforcement authorities stated that the suspects will be arrested soon.

Also Read: Three Accused in Foreign Women Rape Case Sent on Physical Remand

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court in Karachi has acquitted seven accused in the Naqeebullah Mehsud murder case due to lack of evidence.

The case was heard by the Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi, which acquitted seven accused, including Shoaib Shooter and Amanullah Marwat, on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

The other accused acquitted were Gada Hussain, Sadaqat Hussain, Riaz Ahmed, Raja Shamim and Mohsin Abbas.

The defence counsel said that not a single witness had testified against the arrested police personnel that the encounter was fake.

The prosecutor said that 18 police officers and personnel, including former SSP Malir Rao Anwar, had already been acquitted. He added that seven police officers and personnel, including former SHO Amanullah Marwat, had been absconding and that all seven had surrendered after the Anti-Terrorism Court’s decision.

Naqeebullah Mehsud was allegedly killed in a police encounter in January 2018. A total of 25 accused had been nominated in the case, and all of them have now been acquitted.

Also Read: Islamabad Police Assures High Court PTI Leaders Will Not Be Harassed, Court Disposes of Petition

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Eleven people, including a two-year-old child and two women, were reportedly killed in an alleged suicide blast in the Darazinda area of Dera Ismail Khan.

According to sources, the explosion occurred at the Anti-Smuggling “Aman Mela Police Check Post” on the D.I. Khan–Quetta Road.

Sources said a vehicle loaded with explosives was rammed into the anti-smuggling checkpoint.

Those killed reportedly included police and Customs personnel, along with a two-year-old child and two women. More than 30 people, including Customs and police personnel and civilians, were injured in the blast.

Sources said some of the injured were in critical condition, raising fears that the death toll could increase.

According to sources, the attack on the anti-smuggling checkpoint was described as evidence of a nexus between terrorists and criminal elements. Sources further said that “Khwarij” had once again targeted security forces and civilians.

ISLAMABAD: Federal police officials have informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have not been harassed and will not be harassed in the future.

Justice Inam Amin Minhas heard a petition filed against the alleged harassment of PTI leaders Malik Aamir, Shoaib Shaheen and others ahead of a long march.

During the hearing, SSP Operations Qazi Ali Raza and DSP Legal Sajid Cheema appeared before the court in compliance with its orders.
Police officials maintained before the court that the police had neither harassed the petitioners nor would they do so in the future.

The officials further informed the court that if a first information report (FIR) is registered against anyone, the police take action in accordance with the law.

Subsequently, the Islamabad High Court disposed of the petition after the police officials assured the court that the petitioners would not be harassed.

Also Read: Sindh High Court Forms Judicial Commission to Probe Mir Raza Murder Case

Islamabad Police has sought 16,000 personnel from Punjab in preparation for a possible PTI long march on September 27.

According to police sources, Islamabad Police has also requested 2,000 personnel from Sindh. In addition, three deputy inspectors general (DIGs), seven senior superintendents of police (SSPs) and 18 superintendents of police (SPs) have been sought from Punjab and Sindh.

Sources said Islamabad Police has requested Rs827 million to deal with the march. More than 2,000 containers have also been moved to key locations in Islamabad and Attock.

According to police sources, around 30,000 personnel will be deployed in Attock in view of the protest. A decision has also been taken to focus on making arrests rather than dispersing the protesters.

Also Read: KP Assembly Passes Resolution Against Punjab Police Despite Quorum Objection

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed has directed that no police officer will facilitate any march, rally or procession heading towards Islamabad.

According to the directive issued by the KP IGP, any instructions given to facilitate a march, rally or procession must be immediately reported to the Inspector General of Police.

The directive states that action will be taken against any officer who violates the court order.

Earlier, the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had also directed government officials not to provide any assistance or facilitation for a march, rally or procession.

He had said that departmental action would be taken in case of a violation and had also barred government employees from using official resources and funds.

The Islamabad High Court, in its decision issued a day earlier, had stated that no political party or provincial government had the right to block highways leading towards Islamabad.

It may be recalled that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has announced an Islamabad march for March 27.

Also Read: 155 PTI Workers Ordered Detained in Rawalpindi, List of 118 More Prepared

LAHORE: District Court in Lahore held hearing in the case involving the alleged circulation of a fake video of Punjab Minister Azma Bukhari, in which PTI social media activist Falak Javed and others are facing proceedings. During the hearing, Azma Bukhari filed a contempt of court petition against Falak Javed’s lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq.

Azma Bukhari’s counsel argued that during the previous hearing, Mian Ali Ashfaq had pressured the court to issue warrants for Azma Bukhari. The counsel maintained that pressuring or attempting to influence the court falls within the scope of contempt of court and requested proceedings against Falak Javed’s lawyer.

Mian Ali Ashfaq, while opposing the contempt petition, argued that Azma Bukhari had failed to appear for cross-examination at the previous hearing. He said that where a complainant fails to appear despite court orders, the law provides room for issuance of warrants. He maintained that the contempt petition was an attempt to delay the proceedings.

Azma Bukhari’s counsel argued that the issue of pressure had been mentioned in the court’s previous order. He said courts never come under anyone’s pressure and that it was incorrect to suggest that the court was under pressure from the complainant. He again requested contempt proceedings against Falak Javed’s lawyer.

The counsel further said that Azma Bukhari had an issue with the presence of media in the courtroom. He said there was no issue with mainstream media, but objected to people allegedly spreading false information on social media through X. According to the counsel, a YouTuber had apologized during the previous hearing, while another person who allegedly continued to spread false information was also present in the courtroom.

The counsel alleged that tweets were posted after court proceedings and that posts claimed Mian Ali Ashfaq had silenced Azma Bukhari. He further alleged that Mian Ali Ashfaq needed social media activists because they campaigned in his favour. The counsel also alleged that a person who had left the courtroom during the previous hearing later posted tweets about the proceedings.

Also Read: Uzma Bukhari, Accused’s Lawyer Clash During Fake Video Case Hearing

During the hearing, an application seeking exemption from Azma Bukhari’s personal appearance was also filed. Her counsel said that an application was pending before the Lahore High Court and that proceedings on it were scheduled to begin on Monday. He requested that the case proceedings move forward after a decision on that application.

Mian Ali Ashfaq said he would also present arguments on the exemption application and wanted to make further submissions on the contempt petition first. He said he had never seen such a degrading application in Pakistan’s history and claimed that proceedings had been adjourned 14 times because of the complainant.

Azma Bukhari’s counsel asked him to correct his choice of words.

The court also heard Falak Javed’s counsel’s request for issuance of arrest warrants after rejecting Azma Bukhari’s application for exemption from appearance. Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo subsequently reserved his decision on Azma Bukhari’s contempt petition and her application for exemption from appearance.

During the hearing, Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo said everyone sitting in court had to maintain patience and that the court also had to show patience. He said the parties were like children to him and that a lawyer was an officer of the court.

The judge said the case should be decided instead of putting speed breakers in its way, adding that lawyers should present legal arguments and allow the trial to proceed. He said both parties were equal before him and that his remarks should not be interpreted as suggesting that either of the two lawyers was different in his eyes.

During the hearing, Azma Bukhari’s counsel objected to Falak Javed not being produced in court and said it was unfair and that she should have been produced before the court. He said it was claimed that Falak Javed had been in jail for two years, but it was not mentioned that she was on bail in this case.

Azma Bukhari’s counsel further said there was a basic reason behind Falak Javed’s lawyer speaking in support of social media users. According to the counsel, whenever accused Falak Javed appeared in court, a lawyer was present alongside her, while people carrying cameras were also present who were not affiliated with any television channel.

The counsel said this might be why social media was needed and added that it was a personal attack and could not be permitted.

In view of planned protest demonstrations in Islamabad, a ban has been imposed on all types of leave for officers and personnel of the Islamabad Police.

According to a letter issued by the Inspector General of Islamabad Police, the decision was taken in view of the prevailing security situation.

The notification states that all types of leave in the Islamabad Police, including casual, earned and foreign travel leave, have been suspended with immediate effect. Only leave on emergency grounds will be allowed.

According to officials, the ban on leave will remain in effect until October 5, 2026. During this period, police officers and personnel have been directed to remain at their assigned duties and places of deployment.

The letter also directs all officers and personnel currently on leave to immediately report back to their respective places of deployment.

All concerned officers of the Islamabad Police have been instructed to ensure strict implementation of the orders.

Police officials said the purpose of the leave restriction is to ensure effective security arrangements during protest demonstrations in Islamabad and guarantee the availability of police personnel.

Also Read: Law-Enforcement Agencies Told to Stop Violators by Every Possible Means: Mohsin Naqvi