Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa expressed grave concern over the “attack” at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Gohar Ali Khan’s residence, warning that “heads may roll”.
Gohar got to know about the house raid while he was assisting PTI’s Barrister Zafar Ali during a hearing about the party’s bat allotment symbol at the Supreme Court earlier in the day.
A person came up to Gohar and told him about the incident. Then, in conversation with his colleague, the PTI chief said his sons and nephews had been beaten up.
“The news has just come from home. People came in four double cabins and took the computer,” Gohar told his colleague.
Pointing at Barrister Gohar, the PTI lawyer said: “Some people reached his home and beat up his family members.
Reacting to the update, CJP Isa said: “Whatever happened should not have happened.”
He summoned the additional attorney general to the rostrum reiterating his displeasure at the news. The additional attorney general said he would look into it and left the courtroom.
After informing the CJP about the situation, Gohar left immediately.
Limit Crossed
After a while, the PTI chairman went back to the Supreme Court, and CJP Isa asked him about the circumstances. He answered, “The situation is very serious.”
The chief justice gave the extra attorney general instructions to settle the dispute. Barrister Gohar, however, stated that he wanted to inform the court of what had happened and that he didn’t trust anyone.
The home secretary and Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, the Inspector General of the Islamabad Police (IGP), were conversed with, according to the additional attorney general.
The home secretary and the IG are investigating what happened,” he told the court. As the PTI chief wanted to say something, CJP Isa stopped him and told him to inform the additional attorney general instead. “First tell the additional attorney general, if not heard by him, then inform the court.”
Commenting on the attack, Barrister Gohar complained that the limit has been crossed now, responding to which the CJP said the court is not the police.
“If we cannot resolve the issue, then you can tell us,” the chief justice said addressing the PTI chief.
While this was happening, the Islamabad police claimed it received an update about the police reaching Barrister Gohar’s house.
“On a tip-off, the police reached a house in search of the wanted criminals. Upon reaching there, the police found out that the house belonged to Barrister Gohar and the police returned,” the Islamabad police posted on X, formerly Twitter.
ابھی اطلاع ملی ہے کہ بیرسٹر گوہر کے گھر پولیس پہنچی ہے۔
پولیس ایک اطلاع پر اشتہاریوں کی تلاش میں ایک گھر پہنچی۔ وہاں پہنچنے پر معلوم ہوا کہ مذکورہ گھر بیرسٹر گوہر کا ہے ۔ اور پولیس واپس آگئی۔
نہ ہی کسی پر کسی قسم کا تشدد کیا گیا اور نہ ہی کوئی دستاویزات اٹھائی گئیں ہیں ۔
یہ…
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) January 13, 2024
The law enforcers further claimed that neither any kind of violence was done to anyone nor any documents were taken. “It was a routine operation. Further investigations are being carried out.”
Completely Intolerable
Later, the IG Islamabad appeared before the court, CJP Isa told him that a complaint had been made before the court which was “completely intolerable” and ordered him to attend to it “immediately”.
“If heads needed to be rolled, then do so,” he said and ordered the IGP to personally ask the family members present at his house about what had happened.
CJP Isa then asked the IG whether he knew what had happened or not. At this, the IGP said, “The police have gone to that place.” The CJP asked why did the police go to the PTI chairman’s house.
In response, the IGP said the police had a tip-off about proclaimed offenders being present over there, to which, the CJP asked the capital’s top cop to name those proclaimed offenders.
IG Akbar said since the time was short, he was unaware of who those people were exactly. However, he said when the police officials arrived at the place and were apprised that this was Barrister Gohar’s house, they returned.
The CJP then asked in which police station has the case been registered, to which the IGP said that it was the Kohsar Police Station.
“Okay, go there personally and submit a report before us. This is a very serious matter. Every citizen has to have full protection. Since you’re not aware of it, but heads may roll,” the CJP added.
The chief justice, at the end, noted that if Barrister Gohar is not satisfied, the court should be informed.