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Wednesday May 08, 2024

Bushra Bibi's lawyer fined Rs100,000 by LHC for 'wasting court's time'

The former first lady filed a petition to "stop expected police action" at Zaman Park residence during Eid holidays

By Shahid Hussain
April 20, 2023
Former first lady and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khans wife Bushra Bibi. — TheNews/File
Former first lady and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi. — TheNews/File

LAHORE: A petition filed by former first lady and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi to "stop expected police action" at their Zaman Park residence was dismissed by the Lahore High Court on Wednesday.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, who heard the petition, also imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on Bushra's lawyer Azhar Siddique.

Punjab police had raided Khan's Lahore residence last month after the former premier left for the Islamabad Judicial Complex for a hearing and arrested several party workers.

During the hearing of a similar but separate case at the LHC earlier this week, Khan informed the court of his fears that another "operation" would be launched during the Eid ul Fitr holidays. Subsequently, the court directed police to not "harass" Khan.

Bushra's petition, which was heard today, nominated the Ministry of Interior, inspector general Punjab police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as respondents. It stated that "reports" had been received that an operation would be conducted at Zaman Park during the Eid holidays.

It referred to the March operation and requested the court to stop police from conducting the reported operation during the holidays.

During the hearing, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh questioned what the court could do on the basis of "apprehensions".

Referring to the LHC's order to not "harass" Khan, the judge observed that a larger bench had already heard the matter. "When a five-member bench has already issued an order, why did you file a similar petition again? You should not have done it," he told Bushra's counsel.

When Siddique argued that the earlier order was related to not harassing Khan, Judge Sheikh said the latest petition was similar to the matter that had already been heard.

"So much of the court's time is wasted because of such petitions," the judge remarked.

At this, Siddique offered to withdraw the petition.

Subsequently, the judge dismissed the petition and imposed a fine on Bushra's lawyer.