LHC issues non-bailable arrest warrant of Islamabad IG

ATC grants Elahi’s one-day transit remand

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrant of the inspector general (IG) of the Islamabad police for failing to appear before the court in a case stemming from the arrest of former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.

During the hearing of a plea filed by Qaisara Elahi, wife of Parvez Elahi, LHC Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf also issued bailable arrest warrants of the Islamabad chief commissioner and the Attock district jail superintendent, who also failed to appear in the court despite the judge’s order.

Justice Rauf fixed October 2 for framing the contempt of court charges against the DIGs of investigations and operations branches of the Punjab police after their replies over the arrest of Elahi were found unsatisfactory.

Qaisara Elahi filed the petition seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the two DIGs and other relevant officers for allegedly disobeying the LHC order that had restrained the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other authorities from arresting Elahi.

On September 1, Elahi was arrested by the Islamabad police, despite explicit orders from the LHC. The Islamabad police made the arrest in Lahore, when he was being taken to his residence under the supervision of DIGs investigations and operations and the additional registrar of the LHC.

In a previous hearing, Justice Rauf had issued bailable arrest warrants following the non-appearance of the Islamabad IG and ordered him to ensure his presence in the court on Monday. Now, he had issued the non-bailable arrest warrant, as the capital police chief continued to skip the hearing.

At the outset of the proceedings, Justice Rauf asked about the attendance of the Islamabad IG. A law officer informed the court that a reply had been received on his behalf but he did not come owing to his other engagements. He remarked that it seemed the court’s orders were being taken too lightly.

The lawyer for the petitioner, argued that the police officials were directed by the LHC’s Justice Amjad Rafiq to take Elahi to his residence. But the Islamabad police violated the order, while the officials, who were tasked with escorting Elahi, did nothing and remained silent spectators.

The law officer informed the court that the federal capital police took Elahi into custody under the Section-3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). During an earlier hearing, Justice Rauf had initiated contempt proceeding against the chief commissioner by issuing show-cause notice to him.

The judge had also directed the Attock district jail superintendent and the Attock district police officer (DPO) to submit their replies by September 18 in connection with the show-cause notices issued to them on September 5, as to why they should not be prosecuted for contempt of court.

Justice Rauf issued bailable arrest warrants of the Islamabad chief commissioner and the Attock Jail superintendent for not turning up before the court. He also rejected the replies of the two Punjab police DIGs, terming those unsatisfactory and fixed October 2 for farming charge against them.

Transit remand

Meanwhile, a court in Islamabad granted the anti-corruption authorities of Punjab a one-day transit remand of Elahi, following his arrest on charges of violating the law by exceeding his authority.

Also, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted seven-day protective bail to the wife, son and daughter-in-law of the former chief minister in the anti-corruption case registered against them in Lahore, ordering them to appear in the relevant court.

Elahi was presented before Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain by the anti-corruption authorities, seeking his remand. Elahi’s lawyer, Sardar Abdul Razaq, contested the charges, saying that by appointing someone his secretary, the then chief minister did not exceed his authority.

He said that the case was filed the previous day, adding that his client was being made the target of political vendetta since January this year. If he was released by the court, he was arrested again in another case, he said. He added that the LHC had ordered not to arrest Elahi, so how could they arrest him.

Addressing the judge, Elahi said the previous day, a judge asked about another case against him but the prosecution replied that there was no case. He said that they did not make cases by telling the court, adding that 11 cases had been made against him in such a way.

Judge Zulqarnain expressed his surprise. He told the authorities to take care of Elahi’s health and make things easier for everyone. Later, the court granted a one-day transit remand. Earlier, the court approved Elahi's bail in the Federal Judicial Complex attack case.