LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday denied post-arrest bail to a Christian man facing the charge of rape.
Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan observed that the suspects involved in rape cases did not deserve leniency.
A prosecutor told the court that Arnist Joel alias Jugnu had sexually assaulted a woman in Kot Radha Kishan. He said the police found the suspect guilty of the crime in its investigation. He asked the court to dismiss the bail petition of the suspect.
Justice Khan also reprimanded the counsel of the suspect for not wearing the black uniform properly.
Separately, Justice Jawad Hassan of the LHC appointed two lawyers - Azhar Siddique and Saiful Malook- amici curiae in a petition by a police official challenging his forced retirement on charge of causing sexual harassment to a female colleague.
The police official, Zahid Siddique Butt, pleaded that the Punjab ombudsperson unlawfully passed the order of forced retirement against him. He also questioned the jurisdiction to hear the complaint against him saying the alleged incident had not taken place at the workplace.
He asked the court to set aside the decision of the forced retirement passed by the ombudsperson.
Advocate Siddique, already present in the court, said the offence committed by the police official was also punishable under section 509 of PPC. He said the complainant was not even required to file any formal application but to report the incident to the police.
Justice Hassan directed the amici curiae to present their detailed arguments on Oct 7.
Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2020
