LAHORE – November 7, 2025
A two-judge bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday recused itself from hearing an appeal filed by Barrister Hassaan Niazi about Military Court Trial who is nephew of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan, challenging his trial and conviction by a military court in connection with the May 9 riots.
The bench, comprising Justice Farooq Haider and Justice Tariq Nadeem, referred the case to the LHC chief justice with a request to assign it to the bench previously seized with the matter, headed by Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmad.
During the proceedings, Advocate Faisal Siddiqui appeared on behalf of Niazi, while Assistant Advocate General Farrukh Khan represented the Punjab government. Justice Haider observed that since Justice Ahmad, who earlier heard the case, was available at the principal seat, the same bench should continue hearing the appeal for consistency.
The appeal further prayed for Mr Niazi’s release from jail or an order directing his production before an anti-terrorism court.https://t.co/hFU2IxwSvv
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 7, 2025
The petition challenges the legality of Niazi’s trial in a military court, arguing that after his arrest in the May 9 case, he was never presented before a civilian court. Instead, Sarwar Road police allegedly handed him over to military authorities without judicial authorization.
Niazi’s appeal seeks to nullify the commanding officer’s notification dated August 17, 2023, which placed him under military custody, and to void all subsequent proceedings, including his December 2023 sentencing to ten years’ imprisonment in the Jinnah House attack case. The petition also requests the court to order his release or transfer to an anti-terrorism court.
In a separate development, another LHC bench reserved its verdict on a petition challenging the appointment of Immigration and Passports Director General Mustafa Jamal Qazi.
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Justice Khalid Ishaq heard final arguments from both sides before reserving judgment. The petitioner, Advocate Asif Ali Khitchi, argued that Qazi’s deputation appointment under the caretaker government violated merit and service rules. The federal government maintained that the appointment was made lawfully under recent amendments to the Civil Servants Act, empowering the prime minister to make such postings.
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