Lahore: The Lahore High Court has annulled the Punjab Interior Ministry’s notification regarding the video link court appearance of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan. The court ruled that the notification, issued on July 15, 2024, was illegal.
A two-member bench, led by Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, issued a detailed written judgment on the petition regarding Khan’s video link appearance in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). The court found the Punjab Interior Ministry’s notification for Khan to be presented via video link in violation of the law, stating that such matters should be presented before the cabinet, and cannot be individually authorized.
The ruling highlighted that the notification had been issued without the approval of the cabinet and violated the legal framework under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The court further noted that while terrorism-related offenses are highly serious, the Constitution protects the fundamental rights of the accused, which could be compromised by using video links for physical remand appearances.
The court also mentioned that although the ATA law has undergone several amendments, Section 21-E, concerning physical remand, had not been changed, and it is not permissible to present a detainee via video link during physical remand. However, video link appearances are allowed during trials.
