SC suspends show-cause notice to SP

LAHORE: The Supreme Court, Lahore Registry, on Friday suspended a show-cause notice issued to the SP Operation Saddar Hafeezur Rehman Bugti by the Lahore High Court for misusing the authority in a matter to the police’s occupation on a citizen’s property.

Earlier, the LHC registrar office presented the complete record of the proceedings against the police officer. The SC bench comprising Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah suspended the show-cause and proceedings against Bugti. The bench has issued a notice to the petitioner against the police officer for a hearing to be fixed later. SP Bugti through his counsel contended that he did not make any misstatement before the LHC, saying the court had been misled through wrong facts against him. He pleaded the SC to set aside the proceedings against him before the LHC.

Reports said a man had filed a petition before the LHC against illegal occupation of Township Police on his property, pleading the court that the police officials visited his home and threatened him of grave consequences. The SP had claimed that an opinion from DIG Legal had been sought before the police’s visit to the petitioner’s residence. However, the DIG, when appeared before the court, said the matter was not related to his office and he had no meeting with the SP. Bugti had repeatedly tendered his unconditional apology before the LHC, however, Chief Justice LHC Muhammad Qasim Khan had turned down his plea. The CJ observed that the officer was not willing to admit his fault and wanted the court to accept his apology.