A miscellaneous petition has been filed before the Lahore High Court seeking recovery of former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.

The petition was filed before the court by Elahi’s lawyer Tahir Nasrullah.

It maintained that the judicial magistrate had ordered to release his client a day before. Despite this, he was not released. Parvez Elahi is still in the anti-corruption department’s custody.

The petition seeks an order for producing Elahi in court, and release him after his production.

The Attock Jail superintendent failed to appear before the LHC over which the court expressed annoyance.

The court issued bailable arrest warrants against the Attock Jail superintendent as well as the Islamabad chief commissioner for failing to release Parvez Elahi despite court orders.

The Attock district police chief as well as the Rawalpindi city police officer appeared in court at which their show-cause notices were withdrawn.

Moreover, the LHC also heard the contempt of court petition over the arrest of Parvez Elahi despite court orders.

The court ordered the public prosecutor to appear with instructions regarding the appearance of Islamabad IGP in court.

Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf asked the public prosecutor where the Islamabad IGP was.

He was told that the police chief couldn’t appear due to his engagements. However, he has shared a response, the prosecutor told the court.

The LHC then issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the Islamabad inspector general of police (IGP). Justice Waqas said the IGP did not appear despite a bailable arrest warrant being issued.

A contempt of court notice was also issued to the relevant SP for not implementing the bailable arrest warrant.

The court also summoned the Lahore DIGs of investigation and operations and SP security for their indictment, and adjourned the hearing till October 2.

Their replies were considered unsatisfactory over not ensuing Parvez Elahi reached his home safely. The court remarked that there were clear instructions Elahi should not be arrested in any case, and asked why the orders were not followed.

The government lawyer said he was arrested under Section 3 of the MPO. The judge remarked that the Punjab police was helpless before the Islamabad police, asking if the capital police force was superior.

“This is why the public doesn’t trust the police,” Judge Waqas remarked, adding that if the police officers cannot handle pressure they should doff their uniforms and take up something else.