LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the non-appearance of Islamabad’s former inspector general of police Akbar Nasir in contempt proceedings against police for not safely escorting PTI President Parvez Elahi from the court to home.

Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmad observed that the police officer was not taking the court proceedings seriously. He noted that the high court had restrained the police from arresting Mr Elahi.

“Does the IGP think he is more powerful than the court?” the judge asked a federal law officer.

The law officer told the court that Akbar Nasir was no more the Islamabad IG.

Justice Ahmad observed that the transfer of the police officer could not have any effect on the contempt proceedings. He said the conduct of the former IG could have serious consequences.

Giving a last opportunity to the police officer to appear before the court, the judge adjourned the hearing till next week.

Qaisera Elahi, the wife of Mr Elahi, filed a petition seeking contempt proceedings against the police officers of Punjab and Islamabad for their failure to safely lead her husband from the court to home.

In December last year, Justice Ahmad had disposed of the contempt proceedings against the police officials of Punjab after they tendered their unconditional apology.

A lawyer for the Punjab police officers stated that the police were accompanying Mr Elahi, however, they were intercepted by Islamabad police in Gulberg for execution of an order of preventive detention issued from the authority concerned of the capital territory.

He said the Punjab Police genuinely and without any malice remained under the impression that since the order of preventive detention pertained to the authority of Islamabad, therefore, they were left with no jurisdiction.

The Islamabad police had on Sept 1 last year rearrested Mr Elahi near his Gulberg residence soon after the LHC set him free with a restraining order against his possible arrest or detention by any agency and the government.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2024