The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday reserved its verdict on bail pleas filed by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan chief Khadim Rizvi and former TLP patron-in-chief Pir Afzal Qadri. The court also rejected an apology submitted by Qadri over incendiary remarks made by him during a protest against the Supreme Court’s acquittal of Asia Bibi, media reports said. At the outset, the court directed Qadri’s lawyer to provide a straightforward written apology or accept a decision based on merit. Both judges raised questions over various aspects of the apology as it was shared with the court.
Justice Qasim, taking a critical view of the apology, said this way anyone could issue treasonous statements whenever they like, and then try to apologise by claiming that they were not thinking straight at the time. “Why are they [such people] nurtured in laps, why are they not sent to psychiatric hospitals?” he asked.
Justice Asjad Javed Ghural pointed out that the written apology submitted in court used the word mansoob for the remarks issued by Qadri. “Why did the written apology use the word ‘attributed’?” he asked the lawyer, noting that it amounted to manipulation of language.
When Qadri’s lawyer told the court that the education of many children has been impacted by the proceedings against his client, Justice Qasim wondered, “What education must this man provide?” “Such pirs should be hanged. They are ruining the society,” he remarked. The state prosecutor and lawyers for Rizvi and Qadri all concluded their arguments regarding the bail pleas. The state prosecutor opposed granting bail to the TLP chief and former party leader. “It seems as though this person is beset by frustrations,” Justice Qasim stated, without referring to anyone by name. “It is unfortunate that our pulpits have been surrendered to such people,” he added.
The judge then asked to be shown a Hadith that was written during a speech delivered by Khadim Rizvi. The TLP chief’s lawyer told the court, “It is not being suggested that this statement was issued by Khadim Rizvi.”
“If [you think] he didn’t say this, we will play the CD for you,” Justice Qasim retorted. Prosecutor Ehtesham Qadir told the court not to examine the speeches made by the TLP chief and then TLP patron-in-chief on a case-by-case basis. He informed the judges that the Punjab Safe City project has provided a video of the speeches, which was then sent for forensic examination, including a voice recording test which revealed that the voice on record was that of Rizvi. As the arguments concluded, the court reserved its judgement in the case until May 13.