The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the release of Sanam Javed, a worker of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who was imprisoned in a case filed in Gujranwala. The two-member bench of the LHC, led by Justice Asjad Javed Ghural, issued a 14-page verdict highlighting the malicious intent of the investigation officers. The court stated that the identical cases against political workers indicated a lack of incriminating evidence.
The court’s ruling noted: “…we are of the considered view that no incriminating material is available on the record to connect the petitioner in FIR No.823/23 dated 10.05.2023, in respect of offence under Sections 302, 324, 353, 427, 431, 186, 148, 149, 505, 188 & 109 PPC read with Section 16 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960 and Section 7 of Anti Terrorism Act, 1997, registered at police station Cantt. Gujranwala and the investigation launched in the said case against the petitioner is a result of malafide and ulterior motive.”
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As a result, the court accepted the criminal revision and ordered Javed’s discharge from the case. The Deputy Prosecutor General confirmed that Javed is not required in any other case, leading to her immediate release from jail.
The judge criticized the Investigating Officer for repeatedly involving Javed in similar cases after her arrest under FIR No.96/23 at P.S. Sarwar Road, Lahore, deeming it an attempt to undermine the judicial system with malicious intent. While noting the inappropriate actions of the deputy commissioners of Lahore and Gujranwala, the court refrained from issuing adverse orders, hoping they would respect judicial decisions in the future.
