LHC concerned over Kasur MPs’ tirade against judiciary

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court full bench on Thursday expressed serious concern over the tirade against the institution of judiciary by parliamentarians of ruling PML-N in Kasur.

As the three-judge bench assembled to hear a case about a complete ban on media coverage of Muttehida Qaumi Movement (MQM), London chief Altaf Hussain, its head Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi regretted the anti-judiciary speeches by the PML-N’s local parliamentarians from Kasur. Advocate Azhar Siddique, who represents petitions against Hussain, told the bench the police lodged a case against the MPs and others after the video of their rant went viral on social media. However, he said police did not include appropriate sections of the law in the FIR to benefit the offenders.

The lawyer pointed out that he also wrote a letter to the Punjab police chief with a request to add sections to the FIR in conformity with the gravity of the offence committed by the political leaders.

The bench avoided further discussion on the matter since it was not before it so far. “We would examine if this matter comes before us,” the judges of the bench said. Meanwhile, a federal law officer submitted a compliance report before the bench about its order for media blackout of Altaf Hussain’s speeches and activities. The bench expressed satisfaction over the report and adjourned further hearing until May 10.

Advocate Aftab Virk and others had filed the petitions against the MQM founding leader seeking action against him under treason charges for his speeches against state institutions, including the army.