https://ift.tt/w4NJ3SL Special Central Court Judge Bakht Fakhar Bahzad on Wednesday took strict action against top Punjab officials for non-compliance with a court order. The judge issued show-cause notices to the Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP), Punjab Inspector General Prisons, and Home Secretary, directing the concerned quarters to halt their salaries. The notices were issued in response to their failure to produce former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi before the court. The court emphasised the importance of upholding individual freedoms and highlighted the potential consequences when the police fail to abide by legal orders. Judge Bahzad expressed dismay over the situation, stating that an under-trial prisoner like Elahi should not be held hostage by law enforcement officials, pointing to a distressing state of affairs that disregards human values. The case in question involves money laundering charges against Elahi and others. Earlier in the proceedings, Judge Bahzad had directed the IGP Punjab to present the accused before the court, but the order was not followed. Read more: Police failure to release Elahi irks court The judge has now sought explanations from the aforementioned officials regarding Elahi's transfer from judicial custody to another jail without the court's permission. The court has summoned the officers in person by August 5 to provide satisfactory legal replies and ensure the accused is produced in court at the next hearing. Judge Bahzad also expressed concern over the police's attitude, highlighting the callousness of the state in dealing with the suffering of under-trial prisoners and their unjustified deprivation of constitutional and legal rights. The judge questioned the justification for detaining Elahi without proper legal procedures and called for stern action against those responsible. The judge ordered the concerned officials' salaries to be stopped until further notice. Additionally, a cost of adjournment amounting to Rs 50,000 each has been imposed on them under Section 344 of Cr.P.C. He has also directed the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case to submit a complete report under Section 173 of Cr.P.C. Failure to do so may result in proceedings being initiated against the IO in accordance with the law.
from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/30TpDrV
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