LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan on Wednesday rejected a written apology by SP Operations Hafeezur Rehman Bugti about his misstatement in a matter relating to police’s illegal occupation of a citizen’s land.

The chief justice observed that the SP should admit his fault first and then seek an apology from court.

A law officer of the provincial government requested the chief justice to accept the apology saying the SP left himself at the mercy of court. The CJ turned down the apology as unsatisfactory and directed the SP to appear at Rawalpindi bench on June 18 for further hearing in the case.

The chief justice had lashed out at the SP for misleading court and also admonished Township SHO Akmal Khalid for visiting a petitioner at his residence apparently to harass him.

The SP had claimed an opinion from DIG legal had been sought before the police’s visit to the petitioner`s residence.

On being summoned, DIG Legal Moin Masood appeared before the court and stated the matter was not related to his office and he had no meeting with the SP.

Previously, Bugti had tendered an unconditional apology before the court, however, the chief justice turned down the same.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2021