Arrest warrants out for capital’s top cop

Move comes as IGP Dr Akbar Nisar Khan fails to appear before court in contempt proceedings

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued bailable arrest warrants for Islamabad’s top cop over not appearing before the court in response to the contempt proceedings initiated against him over flouting its order that had restrained the police from arresting former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.

LHC Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf took up a plea filed by Qaisara Elahi, wife of the PTI central president, seeking contempt proceedings against DIG Investigation Imran Kishwar and DIG Operations Ali Nasir Rizvi for disobeying the court order that had restrained NAB, any other authority, agency and office from arresting and detaining Elahi under any law.

At the outset of the proceedings, the Punjab police termed Elahi’s arrest by Islamabad police legal and lawful.

Read No end in sight to Elahi’s misery

The LHC superintendent of police security submitted a report before Justice Rauf after conducting an inquiry over whether the aforesaid officials, including the DIGs, were involved in commission of violation of the LHC single bench’s order, failed in providing complete protection to Elahi or helped the Islamabad police in arresting him.

Meanwhile, both the DIGs submitted replies before the court contending that they were on their way to safely drop off Elahi at his residence, when some police officials intercepted them and arrested Elahi, following the due process of law.

Justice Rauf expressed displeasure at the absence of Islamabad IGP Dr Akbar Nisar Khan, against whom LHC Justice Amjad Rafiq had initiated contempt proceedings.

Finally, Justice Rauf issued bailable arrest warrants against the capital police chief over not appearing before the court.

"Notice to IGP Islamabad was though issued but despite service he is not in attendance. Office to issue bailable warrants of arrest in the sum of Rs50,000 executable through Superintendent of Police concerned returnable to the learned sessions judge Islamabad," Justice Rauf ordered.

The counsel for the petitioner sought time to go through the replies of the DIGs as well as the inquiry report submitted by the LHC SP security.

The proceedings were later adjourned till Sept 18.

On Sept 1, the Islamabad police had re-arrested Elahi from near his residence soon after the LHC had set him free and issued a restraining order against his possible arrest by any agency in connection with any first information report (FIR) or inquiry.

Elahi was arrested, immediately after being released on the LHC order, under Section-3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) by the federal capital police in Lahore on the order of Islamabad District Magistrate Irfan Nawaz Memon.

The arrest took place while Elahi was heading towards his home.

After the rearrest, the PTI president’s wife filed two pleas in the LHC, seeking directions to the relevant authorities to present him in court and initiate contempt proceedings against Punjab police officials.

On Sept 4, the LHC issued a show-cause notice for contempt of court to the Islamabad IG.

Read more Elahi says he stands firm with Imran, differs on army narrative

A day later on Sept 6, the LHC further directed him to appear before the court in personal capacity along with Elahi. However, during that hearing, the Islamabad advocate general apprised the court that the IG could not comply with its directive because he had to appear before the Supreme Court.

In the meanwhile, on Sept 5, Elahi was rearrested once again hours after the Islamabad High Court suspended his detention under the 3MPO and directed his release.

The Islamabad police said that Elahi was detained in a case registered at the Counter-Terrorism Department police station.

The FIR against Elahi was registered on March 18 on the complaint of Ramna police Station House Officer Malik Rasheed. The case pertained to the clashes on that day between the Islamabad police and the PTI workers outside the Federal Judicial Complex.

Elahi moved a bail application in connection with the attack on the judicial complex.

Islamabad anti-terrorism court judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain on Monday heard the application. The hearing was later adjourned because of non-filing of the case record.

During the proceedings, Elahi’s counsel Abdul Raziq filed an application for permission of Elahi’s thallium scan, saying that his client was a heart patient and had stents. He added that his thallium scan check-up was necessary every year.

He said that thallium scan could be performed at any hospital and Elahi was willing to pay for the test.
Judge Zulqarnain ordered the Adiala jail superintendent to make arrangements for the thallium scan of Elahi under the supervision of his personal physician, Dr Nauman Naseer.

Separately, Judge Zulqarnain granted post-arrest bail to former National Assembly member Ali Wazir against Rs20,000 surety bonds in a case of providing financial support to terrorists.