LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Friday suspended a show-cause notice issued to Saddar SP Operations Sardar Hafeezur Rehman Bugti by the Lahore High Court (LHC) for giving a misstatement in a matter related to police occupation on a citizen’s property.

Earlier, the LHC registrar office presented a complete record of the proceedings against the police officer.

The SC bench, comprising Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, suspended the show cause and proceedings against Bugti. The bench issued notice to the petitioner against the police officer for a hearing to be fixed later.

SP Bugti, through his counsel, contended that he did not make any misstatement before the LHC. He said the LHC had been misled through wrong facts against him. He asked the SC to set aside the proceedings against him before the LHC.

A citizen had filed a petition before the LHC against the illegal occupation of Township police on his property. The petitioner told the court that the police officials visited his home and threatened him.

The SP had claimed that an opinion from DIG legal had been sought before the police’s visit to the petitioner’s residence. However, the DIG, when appeared before the court, said the matter was not related to his office and he had no meeting with the SP.

Mr Bugti repeatedly tendered his unconditional apology before the LHC, however, Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan turned down the same. The LHC CJ observed that the officer was not willing to admit his fault and wanted the court to accept his apology.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2021