The Islamabad High Court (IHC) gave the federal government one week to submit reply in petition related to difficulties being faced during police investigation of major crimes and implementation of the Police Order, 2002.
A single bench of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Thursday heard the petition and adjourned the hearing until May 21 as the federal government sought more time to submit response.
During the hearing, Additional Inspector General (AIG) of the Islamabad Police Kamran Adil appeared before the court, and informed that the capital police were paid only Rs350 as investigation allowance for each case.
At this, the IHC chief justice observed that the investigation officer (IO) also has to take evidence to the laboratory in Lahore, and by paying a meager amount of Rs350 to the IO of a case, the system itself sets him up for corruption.
He stated that, "this is a big failure of justice and our priorities are wrong." Justice Athar also said that VIPs only use the police force for their own purposes.
He continued that the Police Order, 2002, had been enforced and hence what was happening in Islamabad now was illegal. He remarked that they as a society were responsible for what was happening.
He remarked that high profile cases were highlighted in the media but real issues were neglected. The IHC CJ regretted that they had not learnt anything from the coronavirus.
The IHC bench said that, had justice been a priority in this country, our courts would not have been in shops. The common man should be our priority, and practices, violating basic human rights should end.
Additional Attorney General Tariq Khokhar requested the court to grant the government two weeks to submit its response. The CJ asked the government lawyer, if he had considered the number of cases, which would be awaiting justice during those two weeks.
He also noted that Islamabad did not have its own jail and there was no prosecution either. Referring to the temporary lock-up in the city, Justice Athar asked that if the additional attorney general had ever visited the lock-up and if he would deem it fit for any human to live.
He added that the deputy commissioner was also responsible and he should have visited each police station and inspected them in line with the police rules. The secretary of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan and former IG police Dr Shoaib Suddle were also present during the hearing.
Previously, the IHC appointed Shoaib Suddle, Kamalud Din Tipu, Superintendent, Central Prison, Rawalpindi and Director General National Police Bureau as amici curiae in the petition seeking implementation of the Police Order, 2002.
The bench also appointed Abid Saqi, vice chairman Pakistan Bar Council, vice chairman Islamabad Bar Council, presidents of Islamabad High Court Bar Association, Islamabad District Bar Association and Ishrat Hussain, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, to assist the court as an amicus.
In its order, the IHC bench further directed the office to issue notices to the chief commissioner Islamabad Capital Territory, secretary Ministry of Interior, Federation through the secretary Cabinet Division, and the inspector general of police, Islamabad Capital Territory.
It added, "They shall nominate their respective authorised officers to appear before this court and submit their respective written comments. They shall also explain why implementation of the Police Order, 2002, is being delayed, which provides for appropriate remedies regarding some of the difficulties highlighted in the petition."
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