LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday initially issued bailable arrest warrants for Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) Chairman Faisal Yousaf for his non-appearance, however, later withdrew the same when he appeared before the court.

Justice Ali Zia Bajwa was hearing a case regarding the recovery of a man and the digitization of police station records.

At the outset of the hearing, the judge observed that the absence of the PITB chairman was not justified by the counsel of the board.

“Such conduct of chairman PITB is explicitly contemptuous,” the judge said in the written order.

The judge observed that during the course of proceedings of the case, first show cause notice was issued to the PITB chairman on July 3, which was later withdrawn on July 10.

He noted that the court wanted an explanation from the chairman as to why he stated in his first affidavit that the cost of digitization of all the police registers was approximately Rs50 million whereas total cost incurred according to his second affidavit was Rs549 million.

“Such conduct of Chairman PITB amounts to creating hindrance in smooth proceedings of this court, therefore, in the open court it was announced that a bailable warrant of arrest be issued against him,” Justice Bajwa wrote in the order.

However, he said, before dictating the order and signing the same, the PITB chairman appeared in the court and tendered a written explanation for his earlier absence.

“In view of his explanation while taking a lenient view, the order to the extent of issuance of his bailable warrant of arrest is hereby recalled,” the judge said and adjourned the hearing for Friday (today).

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2024