The Lahore High Court on Thursday sought report from Punjab Inspector General Police by September 12 again in a writ petition challenging faulty process of changing investigation in criminal cases. The court deferred hearing after an Assistant Advocate General Nadeem Lon sought more time as police official would like to appear before the court himself to apprise about the facts of the case.
The petitioner's counsel Muhammad Azhar Siddique opposed police's plea and argued that police had gone uncontrollable in Punjab and they did not bother to turn up before courts. The petitioner Naseeb Ahmad Safi contended that an FIR was registered against him in Icharra police station under section 489-F of Pakistan Penal Code.
He pointed out that he had issued no such cheque and complainant had stolen his cheque and put his fake signature on it and got it dishonoured from the bank. The petitioner counsel Azhar Sadique said case was registered against him in violation of CCPO directions via circular 3/2010 wherein it was made mandatory for police officer to hear both the parties before lodging a case under section 489-F.
He alleged that complainant of the case Younis Ali had closed link with police officers as SP investigation Model Town Shoaib Khurran Janbaz is not only using his influence but is making attempt to receiving disputed money from Safi by threatening and harassing him.
He said private handwriting expert had verified that fake signature were put on the cheque while the police had not got it verified from forensic science laboratory despite the fact that additional sessions judge had issued order thrice to do so.
Azhar argued that it is settled principle of law that a police office should disassociate from board if an objection is raised against him. He said the present investigation system is faulty as it had given unbridled powers to police and common citizens were going pillar to post in search of justice.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the same court also directed Capital City Police Officer Lahore to submit reply and comments on a petition of Safi seeking registration of case against police officers for forcing into his house without obtaining search warrants from a court of law and trampling sanctity of women and four walls.
The petitioner said on July 12 last the policemen wearing plain clothes forcibly entered into his house and tortured women. He said Safi despite court order police were not lodging FIR. The court asked law officer to submit a detailed report about not lodging FIR and taking action against police officers.