LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Mon­day issued bailable arr­est warrants for Islam­abad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akbar Nasir Khan over his non-appearance in contempt proceedings over defiance of an order for the production of PTI leader Parvez Elahi.

Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf resumed hearing of a contempt petition filed by Mr Elahi’s wife, during which a law officer submitted replies on behalf of Punjab IGP and other police officials.

The DIGs for operations and investigation also appeared before the court and submitted their separate replies.

The reply by the Punjab police chief stated that an inquiry had found the arrest of Mr Elahi by Islamabad police legal. It said the police officials fully obeyed a restraining order passed by the LHC regarding the arrest of the politician.

Justice Rauf took exception to the absence of the Islamabad IGP. “Now it is his choice how he wants to comply with the order,” the judge said, adding that the court knew how to get its orders implemented.

Justice Rauf issued bailable arrest warrants of the Islamabad IGP in sum of Rs50,000 executable through the concerned superintendent of police.

The petitioner’s counsel sought time to go through the police replies and the judge adjourned the hearing till Sept 18.

Separately, the hearing of a Punjab government app­eal challenging the LHC restraining order aga­i­nst Mr Elahi’s arrest of could not be held on Mon­day due to unavailability of a member of a two-judge bench.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2023