Three people illegally detained: SHO told to register case against himself

[LRE]

Three people illegally detained: SHO told to register case against himself

Staff Report

LAHORE: Justice Hasnat Ahmad Khan of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday directed a station house officer (SHO) to register a case against himself for illegally detaining three people in a police station and torturing them.

The judge observed that men in uniform were supposed to protect and serve the people, but many of them were doing otherwise.

The judge also observed, “Many of the station house officers (SHOs) have failed to pay heed to the instructions of the head of their department on the subject of illegal detention. Until and unless such police officials are dealt with an iron hand, the image of the Police Department cannot be improved.”

The judge made these observations while hearing a petition challenging the detention of Muhammad Sultan, Muhammad Rafique and Mudassar Hussain by Shah Kot SHO Muhammad Latif Baig.

The petitioner, Ali Abbas, said that three of his relatives were drinking tea at a CNG pump, when Baig and his sub-ordinates took them to a police station and illegally detained them.

He said that Irfan Gul, moharrar of the police station, had enmity with Sultan and the detainees were severely tortured on his behest.

On the court’s directions, the SHO produced the three detainees in court, claiming they were required in a robbery case. The judge recorded the statements of the detainees and observed that it was high time to curb the excesses and illegal actions by police personnel. “The present case is the worst example of the transgression and misuse of powers by the police,” he said.

The judge also observed that such officers were bringing a bad name to the Police Department and required the attention of the head of the department.

The judge observed that the police officials had committed a cognisable offence and their conduct could not be ignored. The judge directed Baig to register a case against himself, Assistant Sub-Inspector Muzaffar Ali Bhatti and other officials responsible for detaining the three men.

The judge also ordered to send a copy of this order to the Nankana Sahib district police officer and the provincial chief of the police.

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