LHC reserves decision on Elahi’s contempt plea
Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh reserved a decision on a plea filed by former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) and police officials for conducting a raid at his Zahoor Elahi residence seeking his arrest.
As proceedings commenced, the law officer implored the court that on the direction of the court, the additional director general Anti-Corruption Waqas Hassan had publicly tendered an apology.
To this, Justice Sheikh remarked that he did not pass any such order of tendering an apology publicly.
Meanwhile, Justice Sheikh also directed the aforementioned official to come up with an amended report by removing a specific line that he (official) had tendered a public apology on the direction of the court.
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The law officer told the court that all officers were of claim that they could not even think to commit contempt of court by not complying the court’s orders.
The director general anti-corruption, additional director general anti-corruption and other officials from the police were present in the courtroom.
Earlier proceedings
The law officer tendered an unconditional apology on behalf of the officials including additional director general anti-corruption Waqas Hassan.
The law officer contended to the court that those words used in the petition have nothing to do with reality. To which the petitioner Elahi’s counsel advocate Amir Saeed Rawn claimed they are ready to submit an affidavit that these words were used by the anti-corruption official.
Advocate Rawn argued that the anti-corruption officials told them that they wanted to make Elahi’s arrest in that case in which he had been granted protective bail.
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On a point, Justice Sheikh remarked either the accused party should defend this matter or leave them at the mercy of the court. This practice would not be tolerated, Justice Sheikh made clear.
The law officer told the court that there was confusion in the raid process adding the bail was granted to petitioner Elahi in FIR 6/2023 and the raid was to be conducted in FIR 7/2023 but mistakenly the record available with anti-corruption the bail was mentioned in the FIR 7/2023 rather than mentioned in the FIR 6/2023.
To this, Justice Sheikh observed that there are two portions, one is about mistake as per your stance that it is a matter of mistake and the second portion is about the remarks which the additional director general passed against the court during the raid. This court in connection to his remarks summoned him in person, Justice Tariq remarked.
“Sir, neither I committed any contempt of court nor could I even think about it,” the additional director anti-corruption Waqas Hassan told the court.