By Abdullah Ahmad
LAHORE; The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued a notice to the federal government on a petition filed by Hassan Niazi, challenging his transfer into military custody and subsequent court martial proceedings.
The case was heard by a two-member bench consisting of Justice Tariq Mehmood Bajwa and Justice Syed Shahbaz Rizvi. Niazi, who is a nephew of PTI founder Imran Khan, moved the petition through his counsel, Faisal Siddiqui. The bench directed the federal government to respond on September 16, specifically on the office objections raised by the registrar.
According to the registrar’s office, the petition lacked an attested copy of the relevant commanding officer’s order and had not been filed before the appropriate forum. Despite these objections, the court decided to seek a formal response from the government.
In his plea, Niazi contended that following his arrest in connection with the May 9 riots, he was never produced before any civilian court. Instead, he claimed, Sarwar Road police illegally handed him over to the military, in violation of earlier judicial directions. He further argued that the commanding officer’s notification dated August 17, 2023, authorizing his military custody, was unlawful.
The petition urged the court to declare all related actions—including his transfer into military custody, military court proceedings, and court martial—as null and void. Niazi has requested that the LHC order his release from jail or direct authorities to present him before an Anti-Terrorism Court.
This development comes against the backdrop of a broader legal and political debate over the trials of civilians in military courts following the May 9 unrest, when violent protests erupted nationwide after the arrest of Imran Khan.
Dozens of PTI activists and leaders, including Hassan Niazi, were accused of attacking military installations, leading to their prosecution under military law—an issue that has sparked widespread controversy and constitutional challenges.
