The Lahore High Court has declared null and void the notification to produce Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in court via video link.
A two-member bench of the Lahore High Court, headed by Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, issued a detailed written decision on the petition of the PTI founder. The court declared null and void the notification issued by the Interior Ministry on July 15, 2024, to produce Imran Khan in the Anti-Terrorism Court via video link.
The Lahore High Court said in the decision that according to the law, this matter should have been presented before the cabinet. Under the terrorism laws, its notification cannot be issued individually. The Interior Ministry issued a notification to produce it via video link without the approval of the cabinet. Crimes under ATA are extremely dangerous, but the Constitution talks about the fundamental rights of the accused.
According to the decision, presenting the accused on video link during physical remand can affect fundamental rights. There have been several amendments to the ATA law but there has been no change in Section 21E of physical remand. During the trial, the accused can be presented in the court through video link but cannot be presented through video link on physical remand. The request of the founder PTI is approved.
Imran Khan had challenged the notification of video link for physical remand in 12 cases on May 9 in Lahore.
