LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday summoned a fresh report from the Punjab government on contempt petitions by PTI activists Khadija Shah and Sanam Javed against IGP Usman Anwar.

Earlier, the counsel for the petitioners argued that the IGP had committed contempt of court when their clients were rearrested in new cases despite court orders. They said a show-cause notice should be issued to the IGP.

The lawyers stated that the court orders would continue to be violated until there was no check and balance.

Additional Advocate General Ghulam Sarwar Nehang read a police report of Oct 10, 2023, to the court.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi asked the law officer how a third case was created against petitioner Ms Shah after bail in two cases.

The law officer said the investigation into the cases was conducted according to the law, and the legal process was followed. He said the investigation is an ongoing process as new evidence keeps emerging.

The judge remarked why the police came to know about the involvement of the petitioners in a new case on the day they were granted bail. He said an explanation of these questions was necessary.

Sanam’s lawyer stated that police initially presented details of four cases in court. He said Sanam was not released even after getting bail in all four cases and the police rearrested her in new cases registered in Bhakkar and Mianwali. He argued that the IGP violated the court orders.

He sought contempt of court proceedings against the IGP.

The judge directed the government’s lawyer to present a fresh report on the matter on the next hearing.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2024