Court reserves decision on Elahi’s contempt plea

ACE official directed to come up with amended report

LAHORE:

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.

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.

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.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2023.