Fake encounters case: LHC dismisses plea against Shahbaz acquittal

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Thursday dismissed an appeal challenging acquittal of former chief minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif in Sabzazar fake police encounter case.

Khurshid Khanum, mother of two men -- Waseem and Rauf, who were killed in an encounter, had filed the appeal in 2009 with a delay of one year. However, a division bench that took up the appeal at that time had condoned the delay after the appellant gave tangible reasons.

The appellant, through her counsel Aftab Bajwa, claimed that another complainant in murders of Shakeel, Salahuddin and Ashraf had forgiven Shahbaz Sharif that led to his acquittal in the case.

She said her husband had not withdrawn the charges. However, she said her husband later passed away but she did not give up pursuing the case.

She said the trial court could not acquit the former chief minister from charges relying on the statement of one of the parties involved in the case. She asked the court to set aside the former chief minister’s acquittal and issue a direction for holding his trial afresh.