BAHAWALPUR: The district and sessions court on Friday witnessed chaos as a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) hurled threats at the judge and was fined for contempt of court.

Yazman DSP Azizullah Khan appeared in the court along with other police officials in a case under Section 22A of the PPC.

Petitioner Muhammad Nawaz said he had got a case registered under sections 376, 511, 452, 354, 379 and 506B of the PPC on Feb 24 at the Yazman police station against Muhammad Amjad Gujjar on charges of attempting to rape his daughter.

But, he added, so far Sub-Inspector Muhammad Shabbir, the investigation officer, had not arrested the suspect. He also alleged that Gujjar was involved in over 10 criminal cases, out of which he was an absconder in some and had connections with Taji Khokhar’s criminal gang.

The petitioner further alleged that on the “illegal directions” of DSP Khan, the Yazman Sadar police on the same day registered a case against him and his relatives under sections 452, 354 and 30 of the PPC. The DSP got his nephew Muhammad Yasin picked up illegally to pressurise him to withdraw the case against Gujjar.

When the DSP appeared in court on Friday, he shouted at District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Rashid Qamar. The lawyers present snubbed him for using derogatory and contemptuous remarks against the judge, and he was taken into custody. He put up resistance by threatening police officers and the court with dire consequences, while the lawyers made him sit on the bench.

The court issued the DSP a show-cause notice for “contempt of court”, at which he confessed to his remarks through a written reply. He also assured the court he would not use such remarks against any court and requested the notice be withdrawn.

The court accepted his written apology, but the DSP threatened police officials and the naib court with “teaching them a lesson” for taking him into custody.

The judge said in his order that though the DSP had tendered an apology, but after threats to police officials he was not entitled to acquittal and convicted him under Section 228 of the PPC and wanted to award him a sentence of six-month imprisonment.

But the DSP cited his “heart ailment and blood pressure” and requested not to be jailed. The court announced Rs3,000 as fine in the light of his “ailment” with a warning to “be careful in future” and forwarded his case to the Bahawalpur regional police officer (RPO) for a departmental action.

JOINING: Farooq Azam Malik, former federal minister, announced his decision to join the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

On his return from Islamabad on Friday, where he met PTI chief Imran Khan, Malik told Dawn he had complete confidence in Khan’s leadership and his policies.

Malik, who is also president of the Bahawalpur National Awami Party, patronised by Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi to carry on the movement for a provincial status for Bahawalpur, was defeated by PML-N’s Baleeghur Rehamn on the city’s National Assembly seat in the May 13 general election. He was also a minister of state for railways during one of Benazir Bhutto’s tenures and mayor of the Bahawalpur corporation.

HEALTH: Chief Minister’s Adviser on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique during a meeting reviewed health facilities being provided to the drought-hit people of Cholistan.

Rafique directed to complete vaccinations in the desert area on time and ensure presence of doctors at medical camps set up there.

Earlier in a briefing, health officials said in the 10 union councils of Cholistan falling on the boundaries of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan districts, seven mobile medical teams, four medical camps and five permanent health centres were functioning.

Later, the adviser was also briefed on measures taken against dengue in the division.