LAHORE - A single-judge bench of the Lahore High Court Monday issued notices to the home secretary and the district coordination officers of various cities to submit reply on petitions filed by Gullu Butt and others against their illegal detention.
Gullu Butt and 46 other petitioners from various cities of Punjab had filed the petitions against their illegal detention across the province.
The counsels for the petitioners contended that the Punjab government had detained a number of workers of both the PTI and the PAT in different cities of the province. They said the high court had already ordered the police not to arrest workers illegally but they did not care and continued raiding at their houses and kept a number of innocent citizens in their custody. They argued that law did not support any illegal act.
Meanwhile, Gull Butt’s counsel also contended that the trial court had granted bail to his client but despite that police had detained him in local jail. He pleaded it is an open violation of a court order.
After hearing the arguments of both all parties, Justice Qasim issued notices to all district coordination officers to submit reply on the petitions. The court adjourned proceedings of all petitions related to the detention until September 25.
Separately, Justice Qasim Khan sought complete record from Inspector General Punjab (Prison) on a petition challenging Maintenance of Public Order, 1960. Gohar Nawaz Sindho Advocate had filed the petition. He said the government was misusing the ordinance for their political purposes and also violating the courts orders.
A law officer, however, opposed his arguments and stated that no evidence was provided by the complainants in all contempt petitions against the government. The law officer also submitted reply on behalf of an additional inspector general police. Upon which, the petitioner’s counsel sought report submitted by police and sought time to submit reply. The proceedings were adjourned until October 14.