LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday summoned a stepson of Prime Minister Imran Khan in a petition accusing him of being involved in a case of abduction committed with the help of police.

Petitioner Mohammad Hassan moved the court for recovery of his two brothers who, he said, had business relations with Ibrahim Maneka, the son of first lady Bushra Bibi from her previous husband Khawar Maneka.

The petitioner said that one of his brothers, Ijaz Ahmad, borrowed a car from Ibrahim and unfortunately got it damaged in a road accident. At this, he said, Ibrahim started demanding a huge amount of money as compensation.

He alleged that Ibrahim being an influential person got picked his two brothers, Ijaz and Ahsan, with the help of local police.

The petitioner said he had approached the respondent for release of his brothers, but the latter declined to do so until the payment of Rs150 million was made.

A police report submitted to the court said that both the men were neither wanted in any case nor were taken into custody.

Justice Anwarul Haq Pannun adjourned the hearing to Feb 24 and summoned Ibrahim Maneka.

Meanwhile, LHC Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh on Thursday dismissed a petition seeking contempt proceedings against Prime Minister Imran Khan on the basis of an alleged anti-judiciary speech.

The chief justice sustained a registrar office objection on the competency of the petition and dismissed it.

A citizen, Tahir Maqsood, filed the petition through Advocate Faizan Naseer Chohan.

The petitioner contended that the prime minister tried to make cases pending against opposition leaders prejudice by delivering the speech in question. He said the prime minster criticised senior judges of the Supreme Court which amounted to contempt of court.

The petitioner pointed out that the SC had in 2013 issued a contempt notice to Mr Khan for his anti-judiciary rants. He asked the court to summon PM Khan in person, disqualify him and order the Election Commission to de-notify his election as member of the National Assembly.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2020