LAHORE: The Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench on Friday stopped the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) from taking action against the accused in Kamra airbase attack case of Aug 2012, DawnNews reported.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Lt-Col (retired) Inamur Rahim advocate, counsel for corporal technician Mirza Waseem Iqbal who is facing court martial over the attack.
In his petition, Rahim had challenged a ban on his participation in court proceedings.
Rahim had adopted before LHC judge Justice Shahzada Mazhar that on Nov 4, 2013 he appeared before the PAF court for the defence of his client but when he sought necessary documents related to the court martial proceedings the PAF authorities banned his entry into the court as they had not received his security clearance. The counsel had moreover asserted that preventing him from pursuing the case of his client was against the spirit of article 10-A of the Constitution which ensured fair trial.
On Friday, LHC’s Justice Mazhar Sheikh heard the petition.
During the hearing, Rahim informed the court that he was barred from entering the premises of the airbase.
Rahim's client Mirza Waseem Iqbal along with senior aircraftman/supply assistant Shawaiz Khan and radar fitter Zaffar Abbas faces court martial on charges of negligence during Aug 2012 attack on the Kamra airbase.
Upon hearing the advocate, the court inquired as to under what law the representative of the accused was being stopped from defending his client.
The court issued a stay order on the trial of the accused till Nov 27.
The strategically important airbase came under attack at night when at least nine militants stormed the base destroying a Saab 2000 surveillance aircraft and killing a security official. All nine militants were later killed in shootout with security forces.