LAHORE (Khyber Point) The Lahore High Court on Tuesday dismissed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s petition seeking to consolidate all cases filed against him across Punjab, citing non-prosecution as the reason for dismissal.
During the hearing, no lawyer appeared in court on behalf of the former prime minister. The court inquired from the Punjab government’s counsel about the number of cases registered against Imran Khan, to which the lawyer responded that the PTI founder is currently facing 107 cases across various cities in Punjab.
The court noted that this was not the first time Khan’s legal team had failed to appear. Observing a continued lack of follow-up from the petitioner’s side, the court dismissed the plea due to non-prosecution.
The petition, originally filed in 2023, sought the consolidation of all criminal cases lodged against Khan in different cities of Punjab. His legal counsel had argued that facing separate proceedings in multiple jurisdictions was a violation of fair trial principles and caused unnecessary hardship to the former premier, who remains incarcerated.
However, with no legal representation appearing in successive hearings, the Lahore High Court ruled that the plea could not proceed in the absence of the petitioner’s counsel.
Legal experts say the dismissal does not affect the ongoing individual cases against Khan, which will continue in their respective courts. They note that the petition could be refiled if his legal team seeks restoration with valid justification.
Imran Khan has faced numerous charges since his removal from office in April 2022, ranging from corruption and contempt of court to incitement of violence. His legal troubles remain a major political flashpoint in Pakistan’s ongoing power struggle.
