14 February 2004	Saturday	22 Zilhaj 1424

RAWALPINDI, Feb 13: The Lahore High Court rejected on Friday three petitions of ARD president Javed Hashmi seeking grant of bail, holding of open court trial and transfer of his case from the court of district and sessions judge, Islamabad, to some other court.

The Judge of the LHC Rawalpindi Bench, Justice Sardar Mohammad Aslam, first rejected the grant of bail petition which Javed Hashmi had moved on the ground that there was no probability of his conviction and therefore, he should be granted bail.

Justice Aslam also dismissed his petition challenging the chief commissioner Islamabad's decision of changing the venue of his trial from the district and sessions court to Adyala Jail, Rawalpindi.

The petitioner demanded an open trial and cited the open court trials of Z. A. Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif. Mr Aslam, however, issued notice to the State that Mr Hashmi was indicted in the absence of his lawyer. He asked the prosecution to appear before the court on Feb 18, to explain the points raised in the petition.

Justice Maulvi Anwarul Haq, also dismissed Javed Hashmi's petition, seeking transfer of his case from the court of Judge Asad Raza. The petitioner stated that he was not getting fair trial and his case should be entrusted to some other judge.

Mr Haq, after hearing the counsels of both the parties, dismissed the petition. Latif Khosa and Munir Paracha represented the ARD president and Advocate Munir Bhatti represented the State.