Outcry over ADCR’s ‘humiliating’ arrest by court official

LAHORE: A civil court bailiff arrested Lahore’s additional deputy commissioner (revenue) from his office, evoking a severe reaction from PMS officials.

The incident occurred Monday morning when a bailiff entered the office of the ADCR, Lahore, accompanied by police. The bailiff spoke with the PA, showed him the court orders, and inquired whether the ADCR had any stay order from a higher court regarding this order.

Later, the bailiff forcefully removed the PA and approached Adnan Rashid. Adnan stood from his seat to inquire about the issue, but in an instant, the bailiff handcuffed the senior officer and warned his office staff to stay away, hurling abuses and threats of lodging FIR.

Someone also recorded the entire incident, which later went viral on social media.

In the video, Adnan Rashid, the ADCR, was seen requesting the bailiff to remove the handcuffs, repeatedly saying that he was cooperating and willing to accompany them. However, the bailiff refused to remove the handcuffs and dragged the officer into the corridor outside his office, and took him to the civil court in the official’s own vehicle. In the video, even after sitting in the vehicle, the ADCR continued to ask the bailiff to remove the handcuffs. The bailiff claimed that the key was with the judge and said that he would remove the handcuffs after leaving the deputy commissioner’s office.

However, no official statement was available from the DC Office regarding the incident.

When contacted, ADCR Adnan Rasheed said that in a civil suit filed by Safia Begum versus Shahbaz Butt, Safia claimed the ownership of six kanals in Katchi Abadi Gulberg as per the 1988 record.

He said she claimed that the land, later transferred to the Lahore Development Authority in 2001, had a Property Tax Document (PTD) issued in her name by the Board of Revenue. Civil Judge Shafqat Rasool had granted her a decree in favour of the land.

ADCR Adnan Rasheed disputed the validity of the PTD, asserting that the transfer of land to Safia Begum’s name without Board of Revenue permission rendered it bogus. He said that the civil judge’s order lacked authority to summon him to court as Additional Sessions Judge Abdul Ghaffar had suspended the civil judge’s decree order on December 6, 2023.

Furthermore, Adnan Rasheed received a notice to appear in court on December 12, 2023, and confirmed that he had committed in writing to attend on the specified date. He deemed the civil judge’s order for his arrest through a bailiff unjustified just before the hearing.

Sources revealed that the district and sessions judge has instructed the submission of the case file to his office. Additionally, the civil judge has taken leave, as per reports.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Management Service Officers Association of Punjab, expressing regret over the arrest has penned a letter to the Punjab chief secretary, highlighting the officers’ insecurity and frustration.

In the letter, it is emphasised that the recent incident is not an isolated case but rather a glaring example of the challenges and risks faced regularly by the district administration. As the face and arms of the government, these officers implement every policy and handle critical responsibilities, including revenue, health, education, law and order, municipal services, and others. Despite the high demands and pressure associated with these roles, coupled with insufficient security and support, they diligently discharge their duties. The recent humiliation of the esteemed officer serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability these officers face daily.

The association has put forth several demands, including the provision of complete legal assistance by the government for the Lahore ADCR, the allocation of a sufficient budget for the DC Office to hire private legal counsel in complex cases, and the establishment of an administrative police force within the DC Office.

In a statement to The News, President of the PMS Association Naveed Shahzad condemned the filming of the humiliating incident. He expressed the belief that it was deliberately made viral on social media to humiliate the officer in public.

Shahzad regretted that the bailiff did not remove the handcuffs despite ADCR Rasheed repeatedly assuring them of peacefully going to court.

Shahzad deemed the situation alarming, as the district administration provides relief to the masses in 90 percent of cases, with only 10 percent reaching the judiciary for resolution. If this situation persists, the ultimate sufferer will be the public, he maintained. Regarding the letter, Shahzad mentioned that it was yet to be submitted to the Chief Secretary’s Office, noting that he wanted to make some changes to the drafted letter. He expressed the intention to elevate the matter to a higher level by involving the judiciary, executive, and bar associations. He pointed out that the issues and problems could be resolved provided every institution works within its constitutional domain. Shahzad highlighted that the civil judge’s order was contradictory to the remarkable judgment of Supreme Court Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah regarding judicial overreach.