Minor’s custody case: Court annoyed at IGP’s attitude, summons CM Usman Buzdar

LAHORE:The Lahore High Court on Thursday sought personal appearance of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar over the Inspector General of Police's irresponsible attitude in a child recovery case and refusal to give a deadline.

The LHC conducted hearing of a petition filed by a mother, Yasmin Rasheed, for recovery of her three-year-old child Abdul Rafay from the custody of his father.

Pursuant to court’s order, IGP Punjab Shoaib Dastgir appeared before the court of Justice Tariq Abbasi. The judge expressed displeasure over the response of the IGP. “If IGP’s attitude is like this then what we can expect from others,” remarked LHC judge, adding that if anything happens to child all authorities concerned will be responsible for the loss.

“I cannot give you exact date. We can only make efforts and I assure no stone will be left unturned to recover the child. Rest is in the hand of Allah,” the IGP replied. The IGP asked court that its order would be followed in letter and spirit. This prompted the judge and he said order had already been passed but police had made no progress in the case and only wasted time. The IGP explained that modern technology tools had been used to find out the whereabouts of the child and his father but no breakthrough had been achieved so far. He said he was ready to form a new team to which court turned down his suggestion, saying it will be of no use.

“Why are you misleading the court? If the top officer’s attitude will be such it would have a trickle-down effect on entire police force. Being unsatisfactory with the IG’s response, the court sought personal appearance of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on the next date of hearing.

remand extended: An accountability court Thursday extended judicial remand of Colonel (retd) Tahir, an accused in the Saaf Pani Company case. Meanwhile, the court has ordered National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor and the investigations officer to extend arguments by February 11 on an application moved by PML-N leader Qamar-ul-Islam, Waseem Ajmal and all other accused persons seeking their acquittal.

According to NAB, the prime suspect in the case Khalid Nadeem was arrested in April, 2018. The accused persons had installed 116 water filtration plants at exorbitant rates in Bahawalpur region. In the bid, the accused persons had falsely mentioned the prices of the planted plants. The accused Khalid Nadeem had got allocated bills at 40 percent expensive rates in the tender through a fraudulent manner. The documents were also forged in the planning process of the installment of the filtration plants. Among others, Engineer Qamar-ul-Islam had been accused of granting tender of 84 treatment plants in an illegal manner and at exorbitant rates.

These 84 plants included 56 reverse osmosis plants and 28 ultra-filtration plants. These were supposed to be planted in Hasilpur, Minchinabad, Khanpur and Lodhran.

NAB had alleged that the accused Qamar-ul-Islam had showed high estimates in the bidding documents in a fraudulent manner. They also granted contract to KSB Pumps Company at exorbitant rates. Islam being the procurement committee in-charge approved the contract.

Saaf Pani Company’s former CEO Waseem Ajmal was accused of planting eight filtration plants illegally in Tehsil Dunyapur besides forging documents in an illegal manner after project bidding. Dunyapur was not included in the contract. He along with rest of the accused persons had similar other sorts of allegations levelled by NAB.

Meanwhile, the court has extended judicial remand of 13 accused in Bin Alam Housing Society Scam. The accused are likely to be indicted on next hearing.