KP IGP asked to explain position on arrests by Punjab police

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa inspector general of police (IGP) to explain under which law the Punjab Police made arrests in the province.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Wiqar Ahmad was hearing the writ petition of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and chief minister-designate Ali Amin Gandapur.

In the detailed order, the court declared that the IGP concerned should tell the court under which law the Punjab Police arrested the citizens from KP.

In the petition, Ali Amin Gandapur told the court that on February 19, he obtained transit bail from the Peshawar High Court in connection with an anti-terrorism case registered against him in Islamabad, but as soon as he left the court, the Elite Force of the Punjab Police chased him in order to arrest him, which he pointed out was illegal as he was on bail.

Shah Faisal Uthmankhel appearing for the petitioner contended that this move on part of the Punjab Police was illegal and unconstitutional. The court declared in its written order that the petitioner had been nominated for the slot of chief minister. The court had ordered the police not to arrest the petitioner until the next hearing. The court sought an explanation from the IGP to tell the court under which law the Punjab Police personnel were making arrests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The court issued notices to all the respondents in the case and fixed March 19 for next hearing.

It may be mentioned that the Punjab Police tried to arrest Mian Muhammad Aslam, a member of the Punjab Assembly and PTI leader, a few days after getting bail from the Peshawar High Court.

However, the PTI workers managed to bring him to the Speaker’s House in Peshawar. Later, he again approached the Peshawar High Court that stopped the police from arresting him.