LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday reprimanded the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) head for registering a case despite a stay order and summoned the officer who authorised the FIR, along with other relevant officials, with detailed written reports.

Justice Abher Gul Khan was hearing a contempt petition filed in 2023 by former secretary of the Punjab Assembly, Muhammad Khan Bhatti, against the ACE.

ACE Director General Sohail Zafar Chattha appeared before the court in compliance with its order and submitted an initial report.

The judge expressed dissatisfaction with the report and the explanation offered by the government’s law officers.

The judge read out the stay order issued on April 13, 2023, and questioned why the FIR had been registered on the same day despite the court’s order.

She also asked whether the order had been challenged before any higher forum.

A law officer told the court that the inquiry into the matter had begun on April 7, 2023, and that the order approving the FIR’s registration had been issued before the stay order.

He submitted that the department had not received the written court order by the time the FIR was registered on April 13, 2023.

Justice Abher found the explanation and the report submitted by the ACE director general unsatisfactory and summoned all relevant officials at the next hearing with detailed written replies and adjourned the hearing for two weeks.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2026