LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday sought replies from the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) and the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) on a petition by PTI social media activist Sanam Javed, seeking contempt proceedings against the officers for not releasing her despite bail in two cases related to the May 9 riots.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi heard the petition as the petitioner’s counsel Shakil Pasha argued that the trial court had granted post-arrest bail to his client in two cases registered against her.

He said a report submitted by the IGP in the trial court stated that only two cases were registered against the petitioner — one for the attack on the Jinnah House and the other for burning of police vehicles in Cantonment area.

The counsel said the police arrested the petitioner in a third case after the trial court granted her bail in the previous two cases.

He argued that the IGP and the Lahore CCPO committed contempt of court by not letting the petitioner come out of jail after she secured bail in the cases.

He asked the court to punish the police officers under contempt of court law and order immediate release of the petitioner.

The judge directed the respondents to submit their written replies by Nov 3.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2023