Hearing a petition in the Lahore High Court against granting magistrate powers to the commissioner and deputy commissioner, Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan issued a contempt notice to the chief secretary Punjab and home secretary and summoned them on August 26 with a reply.
According to details, the case was heard by Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan. Additional Advocate General Malik Abdul Aziz, on behalf of the Punjab government, informed the court that no one was punished after the court order.
The government also withdrew the notification. Taken Talking to the law officer, the Chief Justice said that why the notification was not issued till 19 days after the order of the court.
Additional Advocate General Malik Abdul Aziz could not give a satisfactory answer to the judicial inquiry, on which the Chief Justice issued notices to the Chief Secretary Punjab, Commissioner Lahore Division and others on the court order.
The Chief Justice said that some officers exercised the powers of magistrates despite the court order.
The petitioner’s counsel was of the view that the court suspended the notification but AC Mureedkey and DC exercised judicial powers.
The court is requested to declare the notification unconstitutional and null and void. The court issued August 26 notification to Chief Secretary Punjab Jawad Rafique Malik and Chief Secretary Home Momin Ali Agha for contempt proceedings.
