LHC rejects request to detach Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh in Saad Rizvi case

Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti refused to accept the request of the Punjab advocate general to detach Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh from the division bench hearing on Thursday, pertaining to the matter of alleged illegal detention of Tehreek-elabbaik Pakistan (TLP) leader Saad Rizvi.

During the case proceeding, the Punjab Advocate General Ahmad Awais requested the court to award some time to them, in order to fully prepare the case, as the bench was constituted late at night and they were informed very late about the proceedings. On that, the province’s top judge remarked that he also took notice of why the case file reached late.

Subsequently, Punjab Advocate General Awais plead before the court to detach Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh from the bench as he is the author of the judgment which the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry set aside had remanded the matter back to LHC.

As a response, the chief justice remarked that the top court raised some points which the division bench had to see, and the SC did not, at all dismiss the matter on merit. Mian Pervaz Hussain, the petitioner’s counsel argued that Saad Rizvi’s detention was neither extended by the review board, nor the apex court. On that he raised a question that why his client had been kept in ‘illegal detention’. On that, CJ Bhatti observed that the second member of this bench should remain the member of the bench.

Hussain argued that “The extension in detention could only be made by the review board but in this case, it was not done,” while adding that “The duration of detention had lapsed but even then the government is not ready to release him.”

As a response, the CJ stated that if the case is about alleged detention which has lapsed, then the counsel is free to file a new petition. To that, the counsel responded that they are thinking about it and would decide by the next date. It is to note that CJ Bhatti has adjourned proceedings till November 3.

It merits mention that the provincial government had kept Saad Rizvi in detention to maintain law and order situation in the society, as the TLP head declared that his party would hold countrywide protests, incase the government fails to agree to all of his party’s demands.