LAHORE: The Lahore High Court issued a contempt of court notice to Kasur District Returning Officer (DRO) Latif Anjum for defying an order and showing disrespect for the court.

Mian Ramzan and others had filed a contempt petition against the officer for not entertaining their objections about local government election held in the district.

During Friday’s hearing, the DRO appeared before the court of Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan and filed a report about compliance of the court’s previous order.

The judge observed there was no plausible explanation in the report as to why the order of the court was not complied with before filing of the contempt petition. When asked about the delay, the DRO told the court that he was a senior officer posted in the district and that he was going to be promoted soon. He further stated contempt proceedings before the court were likely to affect his chances of being promoted. He prayed to the court to discharge the proceedings.

Justice Khan made him realise he was standing before a high court in a contempt petition for non-compliance of court order, which itself was a contempt and uttering of the aforesaid words was further contempt of this court.

A deputy attorney general intervened and submitted the DRO was unaware of what he was saying and the court could overlook and condone the statement made by him.

Justice Khan, however, said it was evident from the officer’s attitude and lack of compliance of the court’s order that the alleged contemnor had no respect for orders of the court and considered himself above the law.

“In the circumstances, this court is left with no other alternative but to issue a contempt notice to the respondent: DRO, Kasur,” the judge said in a written order issued on Saturday.

The judge appointed Additional Advocate General Sirajul Islam Khan as prosecuting officer to prosecute the DRO on contempt of court charges. The judge also ordered the alleged contemnor remain suspended from performing his duties in the relevant department and adjourned hearing till Dec 2.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2015