The Lahore High Court (LHC) Monday ordered to release of Khurram Latif Khosa, a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the absence of sufficient proof against him, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.
LHC's Justice Baqir Ali Najfi announced the reserved verdict after hearing the petition filed for his recovery. The court also ordered police to quash the FIR against Khosa.
Khurram Latif Khosa was arrested by the Lahore Mozang police on Sunday under terrorism charges for “assaulting cops” on December 31, 2023.
According to the FIR, Khurram Latif Khosa and fellow lawyers targeted Inspector Sarwar and Sub-Inspector Ali Raza. A group of 15 to 20 lawyers launched an attack on a police party, accompanied by issuing threats.
"Khurram Latif Khosa physically confronted Inspector Sarwar, grabbing him by the collar and tearing his uniform," as detailed in the FIR.
The FIR also stated that the agitated lawyers, along with Khurram Latif Khosa, also "brandished" weapons at the police officers.
According to the FIR, Khurram had also confiscated official files and a wireless set from Inspector Sarwar. Additionally, other charged lawyers took possession of the wireless set from Sub-Inspector Ali Raza.
In the Lahore High Court, the public prosecuter failed to convince the court that Khosa is invloved in assaulting police officials and threatened them with serious consequences.
The police produced Khurram Latif Khosa in the Lahore High Court following the court’s direction.
Justice Najafi conducted the hearing on the plea filed by Sardar Latif Khosa regarding the recovery of his son Sardar Khurram Khosa.
Former Punjab Governor Sardar Latif including advocate Ishtiaq A. Khan appeared before the court while Additional Advocate General Ghulam Sarwar Nahang represented the Punjab government during the proceedings.
During the hearing, the court questioned the public prosecutor about the grounds for Khurram Latif Khosa’s arrest.
The lawyer responded that he was arrested in connection with the same case for which an FIR had been registered against him.
Initially, an FIR was filed, and subsequently, he was taken into custody.
The public prosecutor informed the court that Khurram Latif Khosa claimed to have been arrested the previous day, while law enforcement agencies stated that the arrest occurred on the current day.
Regarding the presentation of Khurram Latif Khosa in court with handcuffs, the court expressed concern, to which the public prosecutor explained that the law applies uniformly to all individuals.
The investigating officer revealed that Khurram Latif Khosa had asserted to the police officer, “You don’t know me; I have been a lawyer for five generations.” The public prosecutor emphasized that the court should observe the actions of the accused and not consider him as his lawyer.
The court questioned whether utterances in anger would warrant terrorism charges, and the public prosecutor argued that certain actions on May 9, particularly in the context of the police going to Tanner Road, were beyond imagination.
The court cautioned against comparing the present incident with the events of May 9, and the public prosecutor maintained that the arrest was neither illegal nor improper.
Reporter: Malik Ashraf