The Punjab government faces the Supreme Court’s displeasure for procrastinating in the GHQ attack case involving Sheikh Rashid.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court (SC) expressed displeasure towards the special prosecutor of Punjab for requesting additional time in the General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case concerning the acquittal appeal of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chief Sheikh Rashid.

A three-judge panel led by Justice Hashim Kakar, including Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, adjudicated the case.

At the hearing, the Punjab government sought additional time to provide evidence about Rashid’s acquittal appeal.

Justice Kakar admonished the special prosecutor for requesting a postponement and cautioned that anybody wishing to seek delays should refrain from approaching this court.

He asserted that adjournments would be permitted just in the occurrence of the death of a judge, attorney, or the defendant.

Sheikh Rashid laments the ongoing travesty of justice in the country.

Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi contended that they planned to include confessional statements from certain co-defendants. Justice Kakar questioned the precise evidence against the former federal minister.

Rashid’s attorney noted that the confessional admissions referenced were already included in the case file.

Justice Kakar observed that Rashid was an elderly individual – where could he feasibly escape? The attorney stated that the government continually seeks extensions and subsequently attributes fault on the judiciary and the defendant.

The attorney representing Sardar Razzaq, the former federal minister, asked a postponement of the hearing to later this week.

The court mandated that the hearing be arranged for the next week and conveyed a definitive message to the Punjab government: political arguments devoid of legal compliance would be disregarded.

The court underscored that determinations will be rendered solely in accordance with the law and nothing else.