LAHORE: The Punjab caretaker government on Friday told the Lahore High Court that as many as 14 cases were registered against former federal minister Hammad Azhar.

Additional Advocate General Ghulam Sarwar Nahang filed a report in response to a petition by former governor Mian Azhar, the father of the former minister.

He said police registered 13 cases against the petitioner’s son relating to May 9 riots while an inquiry on corruption charges was pending with the Anti-Corruption Establishment.

He said there was no inquiry pending against the former minister with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

In light of the government’s report, the court disposed of the petition.

Mian Azhar pleaded that his son had to file nomination papers before the ECP, but he had no knowledge of the ‘hidden’ cases against him.

He asked the court to restrain the government and other respondents from causing harassment to the petitioner and his family members in any manner and provide the details of FIRs, if any, lodged against his son.

Hammad Azhar has been declared a proclaimed offender in several cases related to May 9 riots.

HASSAAN NIAZI: The Lahore High Court on Friday directed the federal government to facilitate Barrister Hassaan Niazi in submission of nomination papers if he wants to contest the general election.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi passed the order disposing of a petition filed by the mother of the lawyer, who is also a nephew of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The judge observed that a deputy attorney general did not show any specific provision under army laws under which the nomination papers to contest election cannot be signed by an under trial prisoner.

The judge directed the deputy attorney general as well as counsel for the Election Commission of Pakistan to convey the order to the government as well as army authorities.

Petitioner Ms Noreen Niazi contended through a lawyer that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the election schedule and her son wanted to contest the polls as he was neither disqualified nor convicted.

She said her son was currently in the custody of military authorities, alleging he had been denied permission to sign his nomination papers.

The petitioner asked the court to grant permission to Hassaan Niazi to complete the process of filing nomination papers.

In August, the government had told the LHC that Barrister Niazi had been handed over to the military authorities for his trial in a case of attack on Jinnah House.

Barrister Niazi was arrested from Abbottabad almost four months after he went into hiding to avoid arrest in cases of May 9 riots.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2023