Lahore

LHC bench headed by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi grants protective bail to Bushra Bibi in Al-Qadir Trust case till May 23

LAHORE: A two-member bench of the Lahore High Court on Monday granted till May 23 protective bail to Bushra Bibi, wife of PTI Chief Imran Khan, in Al-Qadir Trust case.

Former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi appeared in the Lahore High Court for protective bail. A two-member bench of the Lahore High Court led by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and comprising Justice Shakil Ahmad conducted hearing of the case. The court barred the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting Bushra Bibi till May 23 in Al-Qadir Trust case. Bushra Bibi marked her attendance after reaching the court.

At the onset of the hearing, the court expressed disappointment over the delay caused by Bushra Bibi appearing late.

Justice Rizvi told the petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Khawaja Harris, to be careful and keep the sanctity of the court intact. “Where is the petitioner?” he asked.

“I’m sorry. The petitioner will be appearing in a bit,” the counsel responded. At this, Justice Rizvi termed it inappropriate to make the court wait, adding that such behaviour won’t be tolerated.

“We are giving you time till 2:15pm,” the judge said. “We will dismiss the plea by 2:16 pm.” Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned for a bit.

After the hearing resumed, Justice Rizvi made it clear that the petitioner should be present in court before the hearing starts. “This is embarrassing for both the lawyer and the court.”

Bushra Bibi’s counsel told the court that he would ensure punctuality in future hearings.

An application had been filed by Bushra Bibi through her counsel Khawaja Haris Ahmad, Intizar Panjutha and Ali Ijaz Buttur in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The federal government, the NAB chief and others had been made parties in the petition.

The petition stated that the NAB had started investigation in the Al-Qadir Trust case and it was illegal. There was a fear that NAB might arrest them, it said.

In the application, the court has been informed that the petitioner has to approach the accountability court of Islamabad. Therefore, the court should approve the protective bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case.