Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry on Friday disposed of a writ petition filed by the Punjab Civil Services (PCS) officers, seeking cancellation of the case against them.
The court disposed of the petition after a law officer pointed out that the police had submitted the challan of the case to a trial court and therefore the FIR could not be cancelled at this stage. Agreeing to his argument, the court ruled the petitioners could prove their innocence at the trial court.
Petitioning counsel Asghar Ali Gill argued that a baseless and false FIR had been registered against the accused PCS officers. Gill said the PSC officers were protesting for their legitimate rights and that they did nothing which could be termed unconstitutional and anti-state. He said PCS officers had been targeted and victimised and the cases against them merited to be dismissed.
Around 150 PCS officers were booked last month on various charges including instigating others to protest, distribution of provocative pamphlets and terrorism. The FIR was lodged by a police deputy superintendent. The petitioners are out on bail presently.