LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has accepted the unconditional apologies tendered by officials of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) and the police and disposed of a petition of former chief minister Parvez Elahi seeking contempt proceedings against ACE and police for conducting a raid on his residence.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh announced the reserved verdict on Saturday. Mr Elahi had sought contempt proceedings against the officials for alleged violation of a court’s order of granting pre-arrest bail to him. He also sought action against ACE Additional DG Waqasul Hassan for uttering “derogatory remarks” about the court.

The judge had issued show cause notices to the officials for contempt proceedings.

The replies filed by the officials revealed that there were two FIRs against the petitioner. They said the high court granted the petitioner bail in one FIR while the ACE proceeded against him in the other case.

In his order, Justice Sheikh observed the respondents were not inclined to proceed against them on the allegation of contempt of the bail order. However, the judge said the petitioner would be free to avail appropriate legal remedies if the respondents made any excesses.

As regards the second allegation, which was against Mr Hassan in particular, the judge observed that all the respondents submitted their unconditional apologies and placed themselves at the mercy of the court. “Their apology is accepted,” the judge said in the order and disposed of the petition.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2023