Hassaan Khan Niazi, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and the nephew of Imran Khan, has been handed over to the military for a trial over his alleged involvement in the May 9 riots, Lahore High Court was told on Friday.
The court was hearing the petition of Hafeezullah Khan Niazi, the father of Hassaan Niazi, who sought his son’s recovery and inquiry against the responsible officials over this “illegal” detention. His counsel further requested the court to allow the petitioner to meet with his son.
The legal counsel for the Punjab government informed the court that Hassaan Niazi has been handed over to the military, adding that he is the prime accused in the case related to the attack on Jinnah House on May 9. The court granted the government lawyer time to inquire whether a meeting between Hassaan Niazi and his father could be arranged, considering both are now in military custody.
During the initial session of proceedings, Additional Advocate General Ghulam Sarwar Nahang submitted a report on behalf of the concerned quarters, in response to the court’s directive to present the detainee, Hassaan Niazi Friday. The report stated that the PTI leader had been transferred into the military custody and asserted his central role in the Jinnah House attack case.
The petitioner’s legal counsel countered, contending that while military custody could be authorised through proper legal channels, the involved Station House Officer (SHO) failed to adhere to the law. The counsel highlighted that Hassaan Niazi had been apprehended on August 13, briefly held by the police on August 17, yet no official transit remand was obtained from a court.
