The Lahore High Court on Monday allowed another 14 days to leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz to stay in London to take care of his newborn daughter. Previously, the court had granted permission to Hamza to visit his wife in London for 10 days and he was supposed to return on February 13. However, he moved the court for extension in his stay abroad due to ailment of his newborn daughter.
Earlier, representing the leader of opposition, Azam Nazir Tarar argued before the court that the newborn daughter of the petitioner underwent a cardiac procedure due to complication in her birth. He said the petitioner had to take care of not only his newborn daughter but also his wife in London. He therefore asked the court to permit the petitioner to stay further in London till completion of medical treatment of his daughter.
A law officer opposed the contention and argued that the petitioner should have returned to the country within the time limit given by the court. The court however inclining with the petitioner counsel allowed the application. In his main petition, Hamza had approached the court against placing his name in Passport Control List/Black List. He contended that the interior ministry placed him in the black list in an arbitrary manner and in sheer violation of fundamental rights. Hamza is facing multiple inquiries by the NAB including Ramzan Sugar Mills road/drain construction and owning assets beyond means.