LHC judge seeks larger bench in case against Imran's nephew.

LAHORE -- A Lahore High Court (LHC) judge sought the formation of a larger bench on Wednesday to hear a plea concerning cases registered against Hassaan Niazi, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) focal person and nephew of party chief Imran Khan.

LHC's Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh sent a request to the high court's Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti proposing that a larger bench be constituted to hear the application filed by Niazi's mother seeking details of the cases registered against him.

Petitioner Noreen Niazi sought the court's intervention against the "unlawful and arbitrary" attempts to arrest her son and requested that the LHC pass directions to Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab, CCPO Lahore and DIG Operations barring them from arresting, apprehending or abducting him.

She sought the court's indulgence in a "matter of grave and critical nature pertaining to Hassan Niazi who is unable to approach this court himself since he is imprisoned on the basis of a false and frivolous case".

The petition further implored the court to ensure the protection of "the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights" of the accused.

It was also brought to the court's attention that while the PTI focal person had been initially arrested under various charges registered against him at Ramna police station, he has been handed over to police officials of other districts under different...