PESHAWAR: Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan on Saturday filed a contempt petition in Peshawar High Court against Punjab inspector general of police and other officers for his recent arrest despite a restraining order of the court.

The petitioner, Omar Ayub, requested the high court to initiate contempt proceedings against the Punjab IGP, district police officers of Rawalpindi and some other police officers as they had violated clear directives of the high court.

He stated that he had filed a petition in the high court, seeking its directives for the government to provide information about the cases registered against him. He said that on Nov 29 his petition was taken up for hearing by a bench consisting of Justice Wiqar Ahmad and Justice Dr Khursheed Iqbal.

He stated that his counsel informed the bench that the petitioner wanted to surrender before relevant courts but he was not aware about the number of cases wherein he was charged.

PTI leader claims his arrest a violation of high court orders

He said that the bench sought comments from the government and other respondents in the said petition.

He added that the bench fixed Dec 19 for next hearing with the directives to law enforcement agencies not to arrest the petitioner in any of the FIRs already registered against him.

The petitioner stated that on Dec 5 he went to Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, and he was taken into custody along with some other leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf by personnel of Rawalpindi police. He claimed that police officers had been informed about the orders of PHC, but they were adamant and declined to set him free.

The petitioner said that on Nov 6 an anti-terrorism court ordered to set him free. He contended that his arrest despite clear orders of the high court was in violation of Article 204 of the Constitution as well as the contempt of court law.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2024