The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Inspector General of Police, Punjab, to hold inquiry into involvement of political personalities in the transfer of Rizwan Gondal as district police officer (DPO) Pakpattan. "If the discrepancy in the statements of PSO Haider, Security Officer Umer and Ahsan Jameel Gujjar is found and the offence is made out then take appropriate action," the court further directed.
IGP Punjab Kaleem Imam was ordered to submit the inquiry report after independently investigating the matter from all aspects within a week.
The court order also said that the ex-DPO and RPO filed the report. "We have no intention to intervene in the police reports regarding the incidents of mistreatment allegedly meted out to the daughter of Khawar Fareed Maneka by Punjab police personnel on August 5 and with Khawar Maneka on August 23. Let the appropriate actions be taken on the police reports," the court ordered.
The court ordered that besides suspension of ex-DPO Rizwan Gondal, if disciplinary action is made out then proceeds against him because he failed to act in a timely manner after the mistreatment incident.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, heading a three-judge bench which heard a suo motu on transfer of DPO Pakpattan, said that he never stated to protect DPO Gondal.
"I always wanted to restore the respect and prestige of police force," he said.
The CJP apologized to former husband of First Lady Khawar Fareed Maneka and his daughter regarding the incidents of August 5 and 23. "The court apologizes on behalf of the nation," he said.
In the first incident, some policemen had misbehaved with a female member of the family on August 5, while on the August 23 the police chased Maneka's car which, according to police, did not stop at the check-post.
But Khawar Maneka claimed that there was no check-post and the police misbehaved with him when he stopped his car.
The CJP addressing Khawar Maneka said, "Whatever has happened to you and your daughter, I apologize and the court is sorry over the mistreatment at the hands of police."
The Chief Justice asked the ISI Colonel Tariq to remain careful in future and not get involved in the administration affairs. Colonel Tariq explained that he and Gondal are old friends and he called the ex-DPO as he was facing a lot of pressure.
The controversy had arisen when, according to Pakpattan police, DPO Gondal's men tried to stop Maneka's car as he was travelling towards Pir Ghani on the night of August 23. Maneka allegedly refused to stop on the policemen's request and misbehaved with them. Subsequently, Maneka demanded that the DPO to visit his residence to personally apologize to him. But Gondal refused and was subsequently transferred.
The Punjab police later clarified that the DPO was transferred for displaying conduct unbecoming of a police officer and misreporting facts.
The Supreme Court on Friday summoned former husband of First Lady Bushra Imran, Kawar Maneka, her friend's husband Ahsan Jameel Gujjar, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to Chief Minister Punjab Haider, Chief Staff Officer (CSO) to CM, ISI Colonel Tariq Faisal and DIG Headquarters Shahzada Sultan in transfer of DPO case on 3rd September.
Tears in his eyes Maneka informed the court about the misbehavior of police with his daughter on August 5. He told that the police official who misbehaved with her were drunk. Maneka said a "conspiracy" against his family could not be ruled out as the reason behind the chain of events.
He claimed that the police check-post at which he was stopped in the second incident had not been seen there before then. He also claimed that the first sentence policemen uttered after stopping him was "Maneka sahib, step out of the car." "How did the police know that I was travelling in the car?" he questioned.
Personal Staff Officer (PSO) to the CM Punjab Haider claimed that the chief minister had asked him to invite DPO Pakpattan and Regional Police Officer Sahiwal "for tea". He said he had found out about Gondal's transfer in the morning, implying that he had no knowledge of the transfer happening the previous night.
When questioned about his role, Gujjar claimed to be the "guardian" of Maneka's children.
This took the CJP by surprise and he asked which court had granted the custody of Maneka's children to Gujjar when their father himself is alive.
DPO Gondal claimed before the bench that Gujjar had asked him at the CM House to visit Maneka's residence in order to apologize.
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