LHC moved against $20m for fighting Dr Afia case

A LAWYER has moved the Lahore High Court against the allocation of $ 20 million for pleading the case of Dr Afia Siddiqui in America.

He had prayed to the court for a direction to the federal government that the matter instead might be taken to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which was the best forum given the circumstances to secure her release from the US custody.

Barrister Muhammad Iqbal Jaffree, who had moved the Islamabad High Court for the release of Dr Afia Siddiqui from the FBI custody in America said in the earlier proceedings with his petition, the court had inquired of the law officer of any objection if the matter was referred to the ICJ but no reply had been furnished so far despite the elapse of one year. He contends that the then CJ IHC had said that a direction might be made to government to refer the matter to the ICJ if no reply came from the government side by November 4 last.

The petitioner is now aggrieved of the allocation of $ 20 million (Rs 170 million) by the government for fighting case of Afia through a panel of three lawyers in America and fears that the hard earned money of the nation would go to the pockets of some people and the needful would remain unachievable.

He has prayed to the court to restrain the spending of the said amount.

26 kiln workers set at liberty: Justice Mian Najam-uz-Zaman of the Lahore High Court set at liberty 26 kiln workers, including 13 children, after getting them recovered from illegal detention of a kiln owner of Sialkot.

One Allah Ditta had filed a habeas corpus petition seeking release of his relatives from the detention of Ch Muhammad Yousaf, the kiln owner.

A court bailiff produced all the victims before the court and the court freed them and allowed them to move appropriate court of law if they wanted any legal action against the kiln owner.

Source: The News