LHC Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh slaps Rs100,000 fine on Bushra Bibi, lawyer Azhar Siddique Advocate for ‘wasting court’s time’

LAHORE, April 20 (SABAH): The Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh dismissed a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi on Thursday that sought to “halt expected police action” at their Zaman Park residence during the Eid ul Fitr holidays.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs100,000 each on Bushra and her lawyer Azhar Siddique Advocate.

Punjab police had raided Imran Khan’s Lahore residence last month after the former premier left for the Islamabad Judicial Complex for a hearing and arrested several party workers.

During the hearing of a separate case at the LHC earlier this week, Imran Khan informed the court of his fears that another “operation” would be launched during the Eid ul Fitr holidays. Subsequently, the court directed police to not “harass” Imran Khan.

Bushra’s petition, which was heard on Thursday, nominated the Ministry of Interior, inspector general Punjab police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as respondents. It stated that “reports” had been received that an operation would be conducted at Zaman Park during the Eid holidays.

It referred to the March operation and requested the court to stop police from conducting the reported operation during the holidays.

During the hearing, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh questioned what the court could do on the basis of “apprehensions”.

Referring to the LHC’s order to not “harass” Imran Khan, the judge observed that a larger bench had already heard the matter. “When a five-member bench has already issued an order, why did you file a similar petition again? You should not have done it,” he told Bushra’s counsel.

When Azhar Siddique argued that the earlier order was related to not harassing Imran Khan, Judge Sheikh said the latest petition was similar to the matter that had already been heard. “So much of the court’s time is wasted because of such petitions,” the judge remarked. At this, Siddique offered to withdraw the petition. Subsequently, the judge dismissed the petition and imposed fines on Bushra and her lawyer.