Lawyers resist PA official’s arrest

LHC seeks clarification over detention order

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Ali Zia Bajwa on Thursday sought information from the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) about whether any detention order or first information report (FIR) exists against Punjab Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti.

The assembly official had sought protective bail because of his apprehension of being arrested.

A hide and seek continued from the morning til noon as the cops wanted to arrest the petitioner over an FIR registered by Qila Gujar Singh police against unknown persons. The case was registered on charges of attacking police officials in the assembly chambers on April 16 when the election of the chief minister was scheduled.

Lawyers claimed there were clear directives of the court for not arresting anyone from its premises.

The police officials made attempts to arrest Bhatti from both outside and the inside the court premises but the lawyers foiled their efforts by offering strong resistance.

The assembly secretary had appeared before the court of Justice Shujaat Ali Khan for the hearing of the inspector general of police’s (IGP) plea challenging a letter seeking an explanation over his acts of April 16.

Bhatti had issued the letter to the IGP in the light of a privilege motion submitted against him.

Justice Shujaat had earlier directed Bhatti to appear before the court along with the record of the privilege motion.

When Bhatti was leaving the court after attending the proceedings, police officials tried their best to arrest him, but in vain.

Lawyers told the judge about the conduct of the police officials, after which he directed the IGP to ensure free movement of the official from the court to Punjab Assembly.

As the police presence increased, the lawyers obtained bail for Bhatti with respect to the FIR registered at Qila Gujar Singh police station.

Read Punjab Assembly secy, police play hide and seek on LHC premise

Meanwhile, another petition was filed, seeking protective bail for the official.

The applicant’s counsel, Advocate Azhar Siddique and Amir Saeed Rawn, told the court that they were not being provided any FIR or detention order but the police officials had cordoned off the LHC.

Justice Bajwa sought a report from the CCPO by Friday.

Heavy contingents of police in uniform and plainclothes had gathered outside the court.

When they entered the LHC premises, the lawyers resisted their attempts to arrest Bhatti and took him towards the Pakistan Bar Council office, where he spent most of the time.

The police spread around the LHC and some SHOs were seen reporting to their senior officers that Bhatti was still in the court and would be arrested when he would leave the premises.

According to the FIR registered by Qila Gujar Singh police, some assembly members attacked Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari with kicks and fists on the day when the voting was scheduled. “The members and some unknown persons from the gallery also created chaos and damaged valuables of the assembly,” it added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2022.