LHC adjourns hearing of suo moto proceedings

LAHORE - Justice Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq of the Lahore High Court has adjourned hearing till July 25 of suo moto proceedings initiated after issuance of arrest warrants by an additional district & sessions judge against former Punjab chief minister Pervez Elahi, chief secretary Salman Siddique and others for their non-appearance before the court.
On Friday, the complainant of the case, Dr Maqsood Hussain appearing before the court sought short adjournment to engage his counsel. On which the court deferred the proceedings.
Meanwhile, counsels for former chief minister Pervez Elahi, former health secretary Javed Malik, former MS Mayo Hospital Dr Fayyaz Ranjha, former SSP Lahore Amir Zulfiqar and former chief secretary Punjab Salman Siddiq submitted their power of attorneys.
On previous date of hearing, the court had suspended the proceedings of the Qazf case and order of arrest warrants issued by AD&SJ and summoned the record of the case.
The warrants were issued by AD&SJ Muhammad Bakhsh Masood Hashmi on July 16 in a criminal case filed by Mayo Hospital ex-surgeon Dr Maqsood Hussain.
It may recalled that the trial court judge holding proceedings on the complaint filed by ex-surgeon Mayo Hospital Dr Maqsood Hussain seeking registration of a Qazf case issued the non-bail able warrants of Pervez Elahi and others for their production before the court.
Complainant said that a case was lodged against him and according to the prosecution a medical relief camp was set up at Mayo Hospital for medical treatment of October 8, 2005 earthquake survivors. Dr Maqsood was serving in the camp, when the then medical superintendent Dr Fayyaz Ranjha and some other persons in a press conference had accused him (Dr Maqsood) of raping a earthquake victim girl namely Ajeeba.
Dr Maqsood said that these persons had damaged his reputation and he was suspended from his job and Gawalmandi police registered a rape case against him and arrested him. However, the Apex Court, after recording statement of the victim, Ajeeba, ordered to acquit him from the case.
He said Pervez Elahi and others respondents had leveled false allegations against him causing grave damage to his repute and career.
He prayed to the court to initiate criminal proceedings against all the accused and directed them to pay Rs 4800 million as damages.