⚖️ LHC Rejects Imran Khan’s Petition for Case Consolidation
Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday dismissed for non-prosecution a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan, seeking consolidation of all ongoing cases against him. The petition, filed in 2023 before his conviction in the Toshakhana reference, aimed to merge over a hundred cases into a single legal proceeding for convenience.
🏛️ Absence of Counsel Leads to Dismissal
The case was heard by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, who resumed the proceedings but noted that no lawyer or representative appeared on behalf of the petitioner. Due to this absence, the court dismissed the plea for non-prosecution, effectively ending the request without a hearing on merits.
During the hearing, Assistant Advocate General Punjab Umar Waqas Sial informed the court that 107 cases linked to the May 9 riots were still pending against the former prime minister.
📄 Background of the Petition
Imran Khan’s petition, filed through Advocate Sardar Latif Khosa, argued that the cases lodged against him were politically motivated and contained similar charges spread across multiple cities in Punjab. The plea highlighted that in many instances, different courts had fixed hearing dates on the same day, making it impossible for Khan to attend all proceedings simultaneously.
The petition requested the consolidation of cases to ensure fair access to justice and to avoid unnecessary hardship caused by overlapping schedules and repetitive allegations.
🔍 Legal Implications and Next Steps
The dismissal for non-prosecution means that Imran Khan will now have to file a fresh petition if he wishes to pursue the consolidation request again. Legal analysts suggest that the LHC’s decision underscores the importance of active representation, especially in politically sensitive cases involving multiple jurisdictions.
As Khan continues to face a large number of ongoing trials related to the May 9 protests, this development adds another layer of complexity to his legal challenges while in incarceration.
