The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the attitude of Additional Sessions Judge, Rawalpindi, for granting the pre-arrest interim bail as much as 10 times to a police official accused of rape. "It is astonishing how the Complaint Cell, Chief Minister's Secretariat, figures in this matter and have no jurisdiction for investigation," observed the Chief Justice.
A three-member bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Ijaz-ul-Hassan and Justice Chuadhry Ejaz Yousaf, expressed dissatisfaction while hearing a suo motu notice regarding the news of the rape of Rehana Bibi by two police officers namely Abdul Qayoom and Sub-Inspector Natiq Shah of police post Nasirabad.
Rawalpindi RPO Rao Iqbal, presenting the report, said that Anwer Khan, alleged dacoit and husband of Rehana Bibi, sustained injuries after cross-firing with citizens in Westrage, whereas his accomplice Abdul Shakoor was killed.
Rehana Bibi, came and took her husband to some safe place, but later on the police arrested Anwer. After 23 days, Rehana came and complained against the police officials for raping her.
The investigation, done by Deputy Superintendent of Police Khalid Paracha found Sub-Inspector Natiq Shah and Abdul Qayoom guilty, said Rao Iqbal, adding Qayoom was behind the bars whereas Sub-Inspector Natiq Shah was on interim bail. The bench was surprised to know that the interim bail was adjourned 10 times by the Additional Sessions Judge of Rawalpindi.
"The attitude of Additional Sessions Judge, who granted bail to SI Natiq Shah, seems to be unjustified," observed the Chief Justice. Meanwhile, the SI had filed an application to Chief Minister's Complaint cell that a biased officer conducted the inquiry against him, he added.
At that, the RPO had constituted a committee to probe into the matter, which had not yet presented its report. Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa said that pre-arrest bail of the accused was extended for 10 times, which was really sad and could not be justified. He requested the court to make sure about the cancellation of bail of the accused, and questioned competence of the Complaint Cell for probing in the matter.
"It is surprising how a parallel inquiry is going on," Khosa maintained. Additional Advocate General of Punjab Qazi Amin undertook to depute a good law officer of Assistant Advocate General level to argue the case before the Additional Sessions Judge, Rawalpindi, on January 13. The court adjourned the hearing till January 15, and directed all the officers to appear before the court along with the accused.