LAHORE (MNN); A two-member bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday recused itself from hearing a petition challenging the military custody and court martial proceedings of former prime minister Imran Khan’s nephew, Hassan Khan Niazi.
The bench, led by Justice Sultan Tanvir, sent the case file back to Chief Justice Aalia Neelum for the formation of a new bench.
At the start of the proceedings, Justice Tanvir remarked that he had previously heard the matter as a single-bench judge. Therefore, he said, the petition should be heard by a bench of which he is not a part.
Assistant Advocate General Farrukh Khan supported the judge’s view, stating that the matter must be taken up by another bench.
Advocate Faisal Siddiqui and Barrister Khadija Siddiqui represented the petitioner. They argued that Hassan Niazi was handed over to the military by the station house officer, while other accused persons were transferred through orders of the anti-terrorism court.
According to the petition, Hassan Niazi has challenged both the notification placing him in military custody and the initiation of court martial proceedings against him.
