Uzma Bukhari: PTI chief’s legal team has not handled single case on merit

ISLAMABAD: During the programme Power Politics with Adil Abbasi on HUM News, host Adil Abbasi questioned Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Uzma Bukhari about the recent Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict that suspended the conviction of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief by a sessions court in the Toshakhana case.

Abbasi highlighted that the PML-N leadership had strongly reacted to the verdict and inquired whether the PML-N was not anticipating such an outcome or if their concern was more about the political repercussions.

Bukhari expressed the party’s frustration with what she perceived as favorable treatment given to the PTI chief by the judiciary.

“We all know that judiciary was currently on summer vacation until September 10, during which only urgent cases are typically heard but for the PTI chief, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial compelled the IHC to deliver the verdict by 2 pm, and a division bench also heard his case on Friday,” she said.

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Regarding the timing of the verdict, Bukhari stated that while they were expecting the outcome due to the nature of the short sentence case, they hadn’t anticipated it to happen so soon. She contrasted this with delays in obtaining bails for cases involving PML-N leadership.

“I challenge the PTI chief’s legal team for they have not argued any case on its merits but have relied on technicalities and have obtained stay orders,” Uzma Bukhari added.

Meanwhile, when discussing the PTI chief’s arrest, she dismissed its significance by referring to the arrest of Hanif Abbasi when rangers detained him.

She further questioned why the PTI chief, who has advocated for accountability, was now resorting to technical arguments and avoiding accountability.

When asked about the possibility of a similar verdict from the Supreme Court, Bukhari criticised Chief Justice Bandial, stating that he has set a bad precedent where anything is possible. She lamented what she perceived as a disregard for the law and proper procedures, asserting that the mockery of the legal process would continue for the next 15 days.

“The Supreme Court of Pakistan has 54000 pending cases, has Chief Justice Bandial ever talked about any of them? Has any other inmate been provided the same privileges as the PTI chief?” questioned the PML-N leader.

She also recounted the alleged hardships faced by Maryam Nawaz, highlighting the lack of restroom facilities during her time in jail.

When Abbasi raised the point that seeking justice through the upper court is a citizen’s right, Bukhari clarified by saying: “Our objection lies in PTI’s attempts to pressure the court for a favourable verdict rather than following proper legal procedures”.