Qasim Khan Soori Versus Mir Lashkari Raisani and others

This matter concerns the procedural issue of effecting service of notice upon the appellant, Mr. Qasim Khan Soori, in an appeal before the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The core legal question addressed by the Court is how to proceed when a party deliberately avoids the service of court processes. The Court observed that despite repeated attempts, the appellant could not be served, with reports indicating that his brother had refused to accept notice on his behalf. Finding the appellant's conduct in avoiding service—particularly given his former status as a parliamentarian and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly—to be unfortunate, the Court exercised its discretion to ensure the effective administration of justice. The Court held that substituted service was necessary to compel the appellant's appearance. Consequently, it ordered that the appellant be served through publication in designated Urdu and English newspapers, alongside service via registered post and the affixing of notice at his last known address, mandating his personal attendance at the next scheduled hearing.