ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday dropped suo motu proceedings on abuse of authority when Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, former Inspector General of Police Kaleem Imam and Gujranwala chapter president of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Ahmed Jamil Gujjar furnished apologies before the court against the backdrop of the Pakpattan episode.

However, the court also cautioned all the three to remain careful in future as the case being dropped could be reopened if actions were repeated.

The three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, had taken up a suo motu case regarding the transfer of Pakpattan District Police Officer (DPO) Rizwan Gondal for allegedly having an altercation with Khawar Fareed Maneeka, former husband of First Lady Bushra Imran.

The apologies were sought after taking exception to the reply of the chief minister who had pleaded before the court to drop the proceedings after discarding the inquiry report of Mehr Khaliq Dad Lak, national coordinator for the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta), Mr Buzdar said the report was not only lopsided but presumptuous as well as conjectural. He stated that the report was based on a figment of imagination of a fertile mind, rooted in probabilities and surmises and therefore not worthy of any reliance whatsoever.

Punjab CM, ex-IGP, PTI’s Gujjar tender apologies in DPO transfer case

The Punjab chief minister assured the court that he would not interfere in the working of police. The bench, however, took exception to his reply and cautioned him either to face a fresh inquiry or offer unqualified apology before the court.

All the three persons — the CM, ex-IGP and PTI leader — opted for the second option and furnished before the court written apologies assuring the court they would not repeat the same mistake in future.

The apologies were filed through the Advocate General Punjab office after which the proceedings were dropped.

While dropping charges against the PTI leader, the chief justice regretted that Ahmed Gujjar’s conduct by interfering in the state affairs was highly objectionable. The CJP also deplored about the conduct displayed by Mr Gujjar when he first appeared before the apex court and observed that he should keep his ‘uncivil and disrespectful’ attitude with himself.

The court would never tolerate such behaviour in Pakistan, the CJP observed, adding that the apology had never been tendered with heart rather they had tried to get rid of the situation.

The CJP was also all praise for Nacta’s national coordinator Mehr Lak who had been appointed inquiry officer by the court and observed that the country needed such kind of officers.

Earlier when the court was informed about the reply furnished by CM Buzdar, the CJP wondered whether the chief minister was still ‘sadiq’ and ‘ameen’. He said such questions could be raised if case was initiated under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution that entails lifetime disqualification.

During the proceedings, the CJP also mentioned the PTI slogan of ‘Naya Pakistan’ and wondered if this was the way the party wanted to run affairs of the state.

The bench deplored that it was being said CM Buzdar would remain the chief minister as long as the PTI was in government. The CJP observed that the advocate general could communicate to the prime minister that he was not pleased with him. “Is this what Naya Pakistan was supposed to be?” the chief justice remarked.

Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan also observed the chief minister’s reply was a ‘direct attack’ on the inquiry report.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2018