A dramatic scene unfolded in the Supreme Court as a drug trafficking suspect, Mazhar Iqbal, was arrested inside the courtroom after withdrawing his bail application.
His lawyer claimed the suspect feared being killed in a staged police encounter if taken into custody outside.
Lawyer raises fear of fake encounter
During the hearing, the defense lawyer argued that his client faced a serious threat to his life. “There is a risk that my client will be killed in a fake encounter. A force in Punjab has been licensed to carry out such counter-operations. In one case, a person was called from jail and later killed in an encounter,” he told the court.
Seeking protection, the lawyer requested that the arrest be made in the presence of judges and also included in the official court order.
Prosecution defends ANF
The prosecutor countered these claims, insisting that the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) was a law-abiding institution. “ANF is a force operating under the Constitution and the law,” the prosecutor said, dismissing allegations of staged encounters.
Justice Hassan Azhar also pointed out that it was alleged the accused was caught with 10 kilograms of drugs and a drone, a charge the defense strongly rejected.
Bail withdrawn, arrest ordered
Initially, the court appeared ready to reject the bail application. Anticipating this, the defense lawyer withdrew the plea and requested that his client be arrested under judicial supervision. The court accepted this request and directed that Mazhar Iqbal’s arrest be recorded in the court order.
Background of the Case
Mazhar Iqbal was booked in a drug smuggling case in Lahore in August 2023. His lawyer insists the prosecution’s narrative is “entirely false,” while prosecutors maintain the evidence points to serious narcotics trafficking.
