ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has disposed of former Punjab chief minister Pervez Elahi’s petition seeking contempt of court action against the Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Deputy Commissioner (DC).
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri took up the plea. During the hearing, the court noted a distinction between releasing Elahi and subsequently re-arresting him in another case.
Justice Jahangiri remarked that the court had not issued any orders preventing Elahi from being arrested in another case. He stated that if Elahi was not released after the court’s directive to release him in the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) case, it would have been considered contempt of court.
Elahi’s counsel, Sardar Abdul Razzaq, argued that the LHC had issued orders prohibiting authorities from arresting Elahi again. In response, the judge suggested that the contempt petition should be filed before the LHC.
Justice Jahangiri recalled that the IHC had ordered Elahi’s release if he was not involved in any other case. Elahi was released in the case for which the IHC had issued the directive. However, his subsequent re-arrest in a new case could not be deemed contempt.
The petition was disposed of after the Islamabad authorities confirmed that they complied with the earlier IHC order, releasing Elahi in that specific case.
Elahi’s counsel named the Islamabad IGP, DC, SSP Operations, and Shalimar Police Station SHO as respondents in the petition. He sought to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the relevant officers and called for departmental action against them.
Elahi has faced multiple arrests and detentions since the May 9 riots.
