LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has suspended the proceedings of a sessions court ordering the Naseerabad police to register a case against Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam on a complaint lodged by a woman.
Justice Asjad Javed Ghoral issued the restraining order on a petition filed by the cricketer and sought reply from the police and the complainant by February 8.
The next day, Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Naeem ordered the police to record Hamza Mukhtar’s statement against Azam under Section 154 of the Criminal Code of Conduct (CRPC) and take legal action.
The judge observed that serious allegations of sexual misconduct have been leveled against the proposed accused on the grounds of abortion / abortion and false assurance of marriage. He further said that a small reading of the petitioner’s petition proved to be a recognizable offense.
The judge directed the Naseerabad station house officer to record the woman’s statement under section 154 of the CRPC and proceed in strict accordance with the law. Opposing the Sessions Court’s order, Azam’s counsel argued before the Lahore High Court that the complainant’s allegations were based on baseless intent and blackmailing the petitioner. He said that the complainant had earlier withdrawn the same charges against the petitioner and had reached a settlement with the concerned police.
The counsel argued that the Sessions Court passed the inadmissible order without going beyond the facts of the case and without satisfying the judicial mind. He asked the court to set aside the unholy order to be passed against the law.