SC mandates immediate arrest following a refusal of bail.
In a landmark ruling on non-compliance with court orders, the Supreme Court declared that, once pre-arrest bail is denied, prompt arrest is required.
Chief Justice Yahya Afridi led the court in a four-page written ruling that stated that arrest is not prevented by just submitting a petition to the Supreme Court. The court must formally grant approval for interim protection, which is not automatic.
The verdict states that although the Lahore High Court denied the accused Zahid Khan and others’ bail request, the police did not take any action to arrest them for six months.
The court described this as a barrier to justice and underlined that the cornerstone of justice is the prompt execution of court orders.
The Punjab Inspector General acknowledged police carelessness and promised to issue a circular to guarantee adherence to court orders, the Supreme Court observed.
The court further decided that a police arrest delay cannot be justified as an administrative convenience because it is an illegal delay that damages the legal system and erodes public confidence. Unless a court specifically directs otherwise, arrest cannot be avoided, even while an appeal is ongoing.
Following the petitioner’s attorney’s decision to withdraw the petition, the court decided to dismiss the appeal.
