IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Aurangzeb presided over the hearing, which was attended by prominent personalities such Pakistan Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s families, elected representatives, senators, and legal experts.
The bench heard arguments from lawyers representing Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, including Salman Safdar, Sikandar Zulqarnain, and others.
Salman Safdar, the accused’s legal representative, began the proceedings by investigating the procedural aspects of the case.
He emphasized apparent anomalies in the FIR filing process, including abnormalities in dates and the lack of critical documents linking the defendants to the case.
Safdar emphasized the importance of following legal norms, focusing on the role of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the commencement of the investigation. He said that the investigation began before the complaint was formally filed, calling into question the investigation’s credibility.
In answer to the bench’s questions about the trial’s conduct, the defense emphasized the necessity of adhering to the fair trial norms enshrined in Article 10-A. They expressed worries about the trial’s schedule and conduct, alleging potential violations of the defendants’ rights.
While admitting the case’s complexity, the court emphasized the importance of ensuring a fair and transparent legal procedure. Chief Justice Amir Farooq stressed the significance.
