PHC CJ resents harassment on court premises

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Khan said on Thursday said the people who came to court should not be harassed.

The PHC CJ remarked when he was hearing a writ petition filed against the habeas corpus of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Aftab Alam following his arrest on the court premises. He warned that strict action would be taken against those officials, who arrested the accused on the court premises.

“Those who come to court, will be provided relief as per law. The May 9 incident is a national tragedy and the accused involved in it would be treated as per law,” the chief justice said.Earlier, High Court Bar Association general secretary advocates Lajbar Khan and Sikandar Hayat Shah informed the court that huge police personnel had been deputed outside the PHC and those, who came for the bail or seeking other legal remedy were arrested.

Upon this, the CJ said that such people should file contempt petitions if arrested by police despite obtaining bail from the court.“It is an insult to us if accused are being arrested on the high court premises despite obtaining bail. I will not make any compromise on the sanctity and prestige of the court,” he added.

Later, the PHC CJ referred the petition to a two-member bench headed by Justice Ijaz Anwar.The bench after hearing arguments from both the parties issued directions to Kohat Police to produce the accused in the court today (Friday).