LAHORE (Muhammad Ashfaq) – The Lahore High Court has expressed displeasure over the absence of a senior lawyer during the hearing of a petition challenging the freezing of Moonis Elahi’s assets and his declaration as a proclaimed offender.
A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Lahore High Court Justice Aalia Neelum heard the petition filed by Qaisara Elahi on behalf of her son Moonis Elahi.
During the hearing, NAB’s counsel Waris Ali Janjua and Fatima Shahid appeared before the court. The petition stated that Moonis Elahi was residing abroad and that baseless cases had been registered against him. It argued that a petition was filed before the NAB court against the freezing of his assets, but the plea was rejected.
The petitioner requested the court to set aside the decision regarding the freezing of Moonis Elahi’s assets and declaring him a proclaimed offender.
During proceedings, the associate counsel informed the court that senior lawyer Amir Saeed Raan was busy in Islamabad and requested adjournment of the hearing.
Expressing displeasure, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum questioned how court proceedings could be halted due to bar-related engagements. She remarked that the lawyer should begin arguments according to the available record and present the cause list showing where the senior counsel was engaged.
The associate counsel informed the court that Amir Saeed Raan was attending matters at the Pakistan Bar Council.
The chief justice remarked that such a situation was unacceptable and asked whether the petitioner was herself an accused in the case. When informed that she was the mother of the accused, the court questioned whether a person could file a petition on behalf of a proclaimed offender.
Justice Aalia Neelum observed that the Supreme Court had already issued clear guidelines regarding the rights of proclaimed offenders and asked whether any proclaimed offender had previously been granted such relief through a similar petition.
The court further remarked that such conduct was contributing to the increasing backlog of pending cases.
The hearing was subsequently adjourned for an indefinite period.