Wazirabad attack: LHC seeks arguments on accepting PTI plea challenging new JIT

• LHC sought arguments in support of Yasmin Rashid’s petition
• The lawyer said the petitioner was present in the long march
• Dr Rashid submitted that formation of the new JIT was against the law

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday directed the counsel for Punjab PTI president Dr Yasmin Rashid to come up with arguments in support of the locus standi (the right to bring a challenge to a court of law) of his client to question the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) by the federal government to look into the Wazirabad attack on former prime minister Imran Khan.

“How is your client an aggrieved person in this matter?’ Justice Ali Baqar Najafi asked Advocate Azhar Siddique at the outset of the hearing before a division bench. Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi was the other member at the bench.

The lawyer said the petitioner was present in the long march when the container of PTI chairman Imran Khan was attacked in Wazirabad. He said the petitioner also got injured during the attack.

The bench adjourned the hearing for a week and directed the counsel to present convincing arguments on the locus standi of the petitioner.

In her petition, Dr Rashid submitted that the constitution of the new JIT was against the law and ‘without application of mind’ as a JIT had already been formed by the elected government of Punjab, which has been investigating the incident.

The petition states that since Nov 3, 2022, when the incident took place, it has remained a provincial subject and whilst keeping the law and order under consideration, the JIT constituted by the provincial government has been exercising its jurisdiction properly and within the confines of the law.

Therefore, the petition apprehends, the JIT made by the federal government on Jan 23 would only hinder the progress of the JIT that is already working.

She contends an FIR which was requested to be lodged by the aggrieved persons was not registered for ‘some extraneous consideration’ and now during the presence of the caretaker government in Punjab, the federal government has exercised such arbitrary power which in turn leads to exploitation and is in violation of fundamental rights.

It says several people, including Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, are suspects in the Wazirabad attack and it is clear that the new JIT has been constituted only to exonerate the minister and others from the incident.

She argues the impugned notification of JIT is not only illegal and biased, but also based on mala fide, beyond the scope of law and the Centre’s jurisdiction.

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