Expressing indignation over the arrest of former Punjab chief minister and PTI President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi by the Islamabad Police in blatant violation of its order, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the sessions judge to produce Elahi, who is currently in Attock Jail, in the court tomorrow, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

During the hearing of petitions, seeking initiation of contempt of court proceedings and recovery of the former Punjab chief minister, the court also summoned DIG operations and DIG investigation on Friday besides issuing a contempt of court notice to the IGP Islamabad.

IGP Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar, DIG Kamran Adil and other officials appeared in the court.

When the bench asked about the whereabouts of DIG operations and DIG investigation, the Punjab IGP replied that they both were in Karachi. "Both the officials are not to blame for what happened to PTI president,” the IGP said, adding, “Being head of the Punjab Police, I consider myself responsible for the events of that day. If my any subordinate has erred, I am responsible for that.”

He assured the court that he would order a fresh inquiry into the incident.

The LHC, on the occasion, ordered the Punjab IGP to initiate departmental inquiry against both the DIGs.

The Islamabad Police arrested former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi just after the Lahore High Court (LHC) had ordered his release on Friday and had explicitly prohibited the Punjab police, anti-corruption agencies, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other law enforcement agencies from arresting Elahi in connection with any FIR, inquiry, or preventive detention-related laws. The politician was later shifted to the Attock Jail.

Also on Monday, the NAB filed an intra-court appeal against the LHC’s single bench order of not arresting the ex-Punjab chief minister in any case. 

Making Elahi and others respondents in its appeal, the bureau requested the court to declare single bench’s order null and void.

Reporter: Malik Ashraf