Lahore High Court Orders Prohibition of Punjab Police from Harassing PTI Chief: A Crucial Step towards Ensuring Legal Protection of Political Rights and Freedoms in Pakistan.

The Lahore High Court has instructed the Punjab police to treat the former prime minister and chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan as per the law and has restrained them from harassing him. This order was issued by a five-member bench that heard Imran's petition. The petition, filed by Barrister Salman Safdar and Advocate Azhar Siddique, sought to stop the police from launching an operation at Imran's Zaman Park residence or arresting him on the basis of an "undisclosed" first information report (FIR) when courts are closed.

Hearing proceedings

During the hearing, Imran's lawyer stated that cases were being lodged against his client one after the other, saying that 80 cases have been registered against him in Punjab alone. Justice Ali Baqar Najafi expressed displeasure over the situation outside Zaman Park, referring to the three-day-long police action outside Imran's residence last month that resulted in violent clashes between officials and PTI supporters, leaving dozens injured.

Imran’s lawyer said that his client had received credible information about another operation outside Zaman Park during the Eid holidays. "Give us relief for five days," he requested, and "for five days, the doors of the court will be closed". Ghulam Sarwar, the Punjab government's lawyer, asked Imran to present evidence supporting his claim in court. Sarwar went on to say that the law would take its course if a criminal act was done.

Verdict

The court reserved its verdict on Imran's petition and later restrained the police from "harassing" him. The proceedings have been adjourned till May 2. The petition nominated the Federation of Pakistan, the Punjab police chief, the provincial chief secretary, and others as respondents. Imran's petition stated that the "malice and ulterior motives of the Punjab police were evident from the fact that more than 140 cases" had been registered against him. It said the series of complaints registered against the complainant demonstrated the "hidden agenda of undue harassment and political victimization.