Bid to arrest PTI nominee for CM’s slot

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday heard a contempt of court petition against the Punjab Police for trying to arrest MPA-elect and nominee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for Punjab chief minister Mian Mohammad Aslam, who had been granted protective bail by the high court the other day.

Two-member bench consisting of Justice Shakeel Ahmad and Justice Waqar Ahmad heard the petition. Lawyers Shah Faisal Uthmankhel, Naumal Kakakhel and Ali Zaman appeared for the petitioners.

It may be recalled that the PHC had granted protective bail to PTI’s nominee for the slot of chief minister Punjab and had directed the law-enforcement agencies not to arrest him. The court had directed him to approach the Lahore High Court within a fortnight.

Expressing annoyance over the bid by the Punjab Police to arrest Mian Aslam, Justice Shakeel Ahmad remarked that there was a proper procedure for the police from one province to make the arrest of an accused in the limits of another federating unit. The lawyers representing the police told the court that the Punjab Police started chasing Mian Aslam the other day to arrest him when he left the court after getting the protective bail. Justice Shakeel Ahmad said that there was a proper procedure to make the arrest of an accused. He said that the police station concerned was informed before arresting an accused in its limits.

The additional advocate general told the court that he had approached the inspector general of the police that the petitioner Mian Aslam had secured bail so he should not be arrested. The court directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa inspector general of police to take up the matter with the Punjab home secretary and IGP and take action against the cops. The court adjourned the hearing till March 14.