The Lahore High Court (LHC) has taken a stern stance by issuing non-bailable arrest warrants for Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. Akbar Nisar Khan in connection with a contempt case pertaining to the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi.
The case followed rearrest of Elahi by Islamabad police on September under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) shortly after the LHC had ordered his release and issued a restraining order preventing his arrest by any agency or preventive detention.
Following Elahi’s re-arrest, his wife, Qaisara Elahi, filed two petitions with the LHC. These petitions sought directions for the relevant authorities to present him in court and initiated contempt proceedings against Punjab police officials, alleging “willful disobedience.”
On September 4, the LHC issued a show-cause notice for contempt of court to IG Khan during a hearing on Parvez Elahi’s production in court. A day later, the LHC directed IG Khan to appear before the court personally on September 6, alongside Elahi.
However, during the September 6 hearing, the Islamabad advocate general informed the court that IG Khan could not comply with the directive as he had to appear before the Supreme Court.
In the previous hearing on September 11, the court had issued bailable arrest warrants for the Islamabad police chief due to his non-compliance. Despite this, he failed to appear before the court on September 18, prompting LHC Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf to question whether “the court orders are being taken for granted.”
The government’s counsel informed the court that the Islamabad police chief was “busy,” leading the court to seek confirmation from the government’s counsel regarding IG Khan’s whereabouts.
After a brief recess, the LHC decided to issue non-bailable arrest warrants for IG Khan, emphasizing his repeated failure to appear in court, even when bailable arrest warrants had been issued previously.
The court has requested a response from the government’s counsel on the matter, to which the counsel explained difficulties in establishing contact with the IG.
Consequently, the hearing has been adjourned until October 2.
