PA Secretariat withdraws notice against IGP

Police chief challenges notice issued against him over ‘violation of assembly rules’

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court’s Justice Shujaat Ali Khan disposed of a petition after Punjab Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti withdrew the notice issued to Inspector General Police (IGP) seeking his position over alleged illegal actions taken in the assembly premises on April 16.

The IGP had challenged the notice issued against him by the Punjab Assembly secretariat in response to the “privilege motion” submitted over breach or violation of the assembly rules.

The PA secretariat had sought an explanation from the IGP upon whose authorisation and orders the police entered into the assembly premises in general and assembly chambers in particular on April 16 - a day that had been fixed for a contest on the chief minister’s slot.

Under which law, authority and on whose complaint the FIR was registered against MPAs. The motion was moved against the incident that occurred on April 16 on charges of violation of dignity and sanctity of the House of Assembly by illegal actions of Punjab police.

Further sought all lists of police officers and officials with their names, designation, credentials etc. The requisition for the deployment of troops at the assembly was also sought.

In the previous proceeding, LHC had sought a relevant record of a ‘privilege motion’ from CCPO Lahore.

As the proceedings commenced, the PA secretary Bhatti appeared before the court and requested the court that the PA secretariat has withdrawn the notice issued to the IGP after which the LHC disposed of the petition.

Petitioner IGP’s counsel had implored the court that his client received a letter on April 15 from the then acting speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari with a request to provide security staff to avoid any untoward incident on April 16.

On April 16, the petitioner received another letter with a request for the deployment of requisite security forces on the House premises. He argued that the petitioner complying with Mazari’s request as well as keeping in mind the observations of the Lahore High Court performed his duty as per law.

But the respondent PA secretary accused the IGP of committing illegal action by deploying security officials.

He argued that the deputy speaker then quashed the letter of the PA secretary. He submitted that Speaker Ch Pervez Elahi has been threatening him, on the media, to convict him for three months. He requested the court to set aside by declaring illegal the letter issued by the PA secretariat.

The respondent PA secretariat’s counsel advocate Azhar Siddique implored the court that the letter was issued on the recommendations of the privilege committee and the petitioner is bound to give information there. He argued that the PTI’s members were thrashed by the police officials adding the petitioner acted beyond his domain.

He implored the court that assistance of any law enforcement agency could only be asked by the sergeant-at-arms of the assembly or by the PA secretary by addressing the letter by the then presiding officer to the petitioner speaks volumes about his mala-fide conduct.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2022.