LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday warned Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) officials that they will not be spared if they commit contempt of court. The court also issued a show cause notice to DGACE Sohail Zafar Chatta.
The court was hearing a contempt petition filed by former Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi against the ACE and police officials for raiding his residence despite the fact that he was granted security by the LHC.
As the hearing began, the law officer informed the court that Elahi was granted bail in FIR dated 6/2023 and raided under FIR 7/2023 but by mistake, the ACE team was not present at the time of the raid. Pass record was available. FIR 7/2023 was mentioned instead of FIR 6/2023.
The court observed that the case is roughly two-pronged. The first is about the alleged wrongdoing by ACE officials and the second is about the remarks made by ACE Additional Director General Waqas Hasan against the court during the raid.
It is pertinent to mention here that during the raid, Waqas had said that he “doesn’t care if he faces blasphemy charges”. However, Waqas said in his statement before the court that he cannot even think of contempt of court. The court then asked the law officer to show Elahi’s arrest warrant which the ACE team had carried with them during the raid. But the law officer failed to submit.
The court expressed displeasure over the non-compliance of the ACE authorities in submitting the reply to the notices issued to them. The law officer said that he had given the answer in hand but there was a mistake in it. He asked for time to submit correct answers.
The court remarked that the ACE officials violated court orders and then used inappropriate words about it. Addressing the ACE officials, the court remarked that listen with open ears, if you give a wrong statement, the court will pronounce its order. The court adjourned the hearing by issuing a notice to all the concerned officers.
