LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has disposed of for being infructuous a petition of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi against non-issuance of his production orders to attend the National Assembly sessions.

A division bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi disposed of the petition as grievance of the petitioner stood redressed after the NA speaker issued ex-premier’s production orders.

The other day, a deputy attorney general also informed the bench that production order of the petitioner had been extended till prorogation of the ongoing assembly session. He had urged the bench to dismiss the petition for being infructuous.

Meanwhile, the bench also sought arguments from Mr Abbasi’s counsel on maintainability of a fresh petition against Punjab government for not sending the petitioner, detained in Adiala Jail, to Islamabad to attend the assembly’s session.

During the hearing, Justice Najafi observed that the NA speaker had the power to procure attendance of any member in the session.

The judge said to Advocate Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Mr Abbasi’s counsel, that the petitioner should have approached the speaker instead of moving the court. The petitioner should fight for his rights in the parliament, added the judge.

The counsel pointed out that the production orders of under-trial MNA Khwaja Saad Rafiq had not been implemented too.

The bench observed that it was hearing the petition as an “objection case” as it still required assistance from the counsel on its maintainability.

The bench adjourned further hearing and also directed a deputy attorney general to find out the hurdles in the execution of the petitioner’s production order.

Mr Abbasi, in the petition, sought a court directive to the provincial government to execute his production order issued by the NA speaker and ensure his attendance in the session.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2019