LHC sets aside order to register case against Babar Azam

LAHORE, Mar 12 (APP):The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday set aside an order directing authorities to register a criminal case against former Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam over alleged sexual harassment.

Justice Asjad Javed Ghural heard the petition filed by the cricketer challenging the Justice of Peace’s directive for the registration of an FIR.

Barrister Haris Azmat appeared on behalf of Babar Azam and argued that the complainant, Hamiza Mukhtar, had earlier filed a similar petition in 2018 which was later withdrawn.

The counsel submitted that Babar Azam gained significant fame in international cricket between 2018 and 2020, after which the woman allegedly sent him a legal notice demanding Rs150 million in damages. According to the lawyer, the notice claimed that the cricketer had sexually harassed her by promising marriage and warned that legal action would be taken if the amount was not paid.

Barrister Azmat told the court that after Babar Azam refused the demand, the complainant again approached the Justice of Peace seeking registration of a case. An Additional Sessions Judge, acting as Justice of Peace, subsequently directed the authorities to register an FIR against the cricketer.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the order did not fulfill legal requirements and should be declared void.

During the hearing, Assistant Attorney General Zahid Aziz Bhatta appeared on behalf of the federal government, while Additional Advocate General Khalida Parveen represented the Punjab government. Both the government lawyers and the complainant’s counsel opposed the petition.

However, the court was not convinced by their arguments and allowed Babar Azam’s petition, declaring the Justice of Peace’s order for registration of the case null and void.