LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday extended its injunctive order against the arrest of former chief minister Usman Buzdar by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) till May 8 and referred his petition for further hearing to a full bench.

Earlier, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh turned down a request by the ACE lawyer to withdraw the stay order.

The judge observed that the need for the arrest in every case was not understandable.

He said the ACE officials should not close their eyes after seeing what happened at the house of PTI central president Parvez Elahi.

The judge said nothing would happen if the arrest was not made till Monday.

“Let him (Buzdar) have a good weekend,” the judge asked the ACE lawyer.

Buzdar’s counsel stated that raids were being conducted on weekends even while keeping the cases in secret.

The law officer told the judge that the petitioner had not joined the investigation despite an order by the court.

Justice Sheikh reminded the petitioner’s counsel that law was equal for all and his client should not have any misconception.

The counsel said the petitioner visited the office of the ACE and stayed there for three hours but he was told that there was no case against him.

The judge extended the stay order and referred the petitioner to a full bench already hearing similar matters.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2023