LHC judge steps aside from bail hearing in Libya boat tragedy case

The case involving accused Shafaqat Ali was taken up by the Lahore High Court, where Justice Nihang informed the court that he had previously served

LAHORE: Lahore High Court ( LHC) Justice Ghulam Sarwar Nihang has recused himself from hearing the post-arrest bail petition of a suspect allegedly linked to the Libyan boat tragedy.

The case involving accused Shafaqat Ali was taken up by the Lahore High Court, where Justice Nihang informed the court that he had previously served as a member of the commission formed to investigate the Libya shipwreck.

Given his previous involvement with the commission, the judge said he did not consider it appropriate to hear the bail petition concerning the same matter. The case record was subsequently referred to the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court for further proceedings.

During the hearing, the defence counsel argued that bail had already been granted to suspects in several similar cases and requested that Shafaqat Ali also be released on bail until the trial court reaches a decision.

The case is part of investigations launched following the Libyan boat accident. The Federal Investigation Agency’s Mandi Bahauddin office has registered cases against suspects allegedly connected to the incident.

In a related development, another accused, Muhammad Tahir, has also been granted post-arrest bail in the Libya boat tragedy case.