SC rejects PTI chief’s bail plea in lawyer’s murder case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday rejected a plea of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan seeking an interim bail in the murder case of senior lawyer Abdul Razzaq Shar in Quetta.

The apex court also rejected the PTI chief’s plea seeking a stay against high court’s order in the instant matter.

When a two-member SC bench consisting of Justice Ijazul Ahsan Malik and Ayesha Malik took up the case, lawyer Latif Khosa representing the PTI chairman, pleaded to the court to issue orders barring the police from arresting his client because he was facing ‘life threats’.

Justice Ahsan said that the court could not issue such an order without considering the viewpoints of respondents.

Justice Khosa told the court that an FIR (First Information Report) had been registered by the deceased lawyer’s son, Siraj Ahmed, against his client under terrorism provisions.

Justice Ayesha asked Khosa about the charges levelled against his client in the case.  Justice Ahsan remarked that if wrong provisions were included in the FIR, the petitioner had the right to approach the appropriate forum to address the issue.

Justice Khosa also highlighted the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in the case. Justice Ayesha inquired whether the petitioner had challenged the constitution of the JIT.

Justice Ijaz asked which sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act allowed an anti-terrorism court (ATC) to establish a JIT.

The petitioner’s counsel said that only the Police Station House Officer (SHO) has the authority to register a case under the terrorism-related sections.

Justice Ahsan asked if the SHO’s decision was wrong, whether or not an application be moved in the ATC. ” You have the right to go to the relevant forum and complain that the wrong provisions have been imposed,” the judge observed.

Following the proceedings, the court adjourned the hearing of the case for an indefinite period.

Siraj Ahmed, the son of deceased lawyer Abdul Razzaq Shar, filed a complaint against the PTI chief on June 6, accusing him of abetting the murder of his father. He has alleged that his father was killed in connection with a case he had filed against the PTI chairman.