Islamabad
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday declared the eight-day remand of several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers null and void. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz delivered the verdict after hearing arguments from both sides, according to sources.
Several PTI leaders, including Sher Afzal Marwat, Zain Qureshi, Amir Dogar, Naseem Shah, Ahmed Chattha, Sheikh Waqas Akram, and Shoaib Shaheen, were arrested on September 9 following clashes with police during protests in Islamabad. They were initially remanded for eight days by an anti-terrorism court.
Chief Justice Farooq, while reviewing the case, mocked the charges against the lawmakers, calling the FIRs a ‘good comedy.’ The courtroom burst into laughter when the Chief Justice pointed out that some allegations were exaggerated and lacked credibility. For example, the FIR claimed senior lawyer Shoaib Shaheen possessed a pistol, a charge Farooq dismissed humorously.
Justice Farooq criticized the remand, questioning why it was extended for eight days when the allegations were baseless and investigators had already completed their inquiries. He suggested that even if the charges were true, proper legal procedures should have been followed.
A short order was released to provide immediate relief to the detained legislators. Chief Justice Farooq stressed the importance of preserving the dignity of all institutions, including Parliament, and emphasized the right to a fair trial for all, regardless of the crime.
