LAHORE: A Lahore High Court two-judge bench on Wednesday reserved verdict on a petition by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi against non-issuance of his production orders to attend sessions of the National Assembly.

Earlier, a law officer told the bench that production order of the petitioner had been extended till prorogation of ongoing session of the assembly. He urged the bench to dismiss the petition for being infructuous.

Petitioner’s counsel Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, however, asked the bench to pass detailed order on the petition as it challenged the act of the speaker of not issuing production orders.

After hearing both sides, the bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi reserved verdict on the petition.

The petition had contended that Mr Abbasi was elected to the assembly from NA-124, Lahore and at present was on judicial custody following a NAB reference.

It said the petitioner had time and again requested the NA speaker for issuance of his production orders but the speaker had not been issuing the same in violation of law and the assembly’s rules.

Mala fide on the part of the speaker was evident as previously other members facing cases had been summoned through production orders to attend the assembly’s sessions. It said the non-issuance of the petitioner’s production order was a violation of his fundamental rights.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2019