Old wine in new bottle: IG ordered to hold inquiry against negligent cops

SHC observes old reports are re-filed in missing persons cases

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered the province’s top cop on Monday to hold an inquiry against police officials who habitually submit old reports with new dates.

A division bench, headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, warned that in case IG Ghulam Haider Jamali failed to comply with the court order by February 8, he will be called in person to explain the matter.

The bench, which was exclusively hearing missing persons’ cases, passed this direction after two senior police officials filed old progress reports.

Muhammad Sohaib, 37, was allegedly taken into custody by law-enforcement agencies from Gulzar-e-Hijri on April 13, 2014. His family has approached the SHC to ascertain his whereabouts.

At previous hearings, police officials had been filing reports stating that efforts were under way to locate Sohaib but no progress was made so far.

During Monday's proceedings, two reports were filed on behalf of SDPO Memon Goth and Gadap, DSP Pervez Shah, and SSP Investigation-II East Zone. After going through the reports, the judges noted that the second report was not signed by SSP East.

They observed that it is noted repeatedly that investigation officers furnish old reports by changing the dates.

"We, therefore, direct the Sindh IG to hold an inquiry himself or through a senior police official as to why, without making any progress, the same reports are being furnished by simply changing the dates," ordered the bench. The judges further directed that such reports be filed with the court within 15 days.

The court's office was also directed to send the order’s copy to the IG for intimation and compliance. The same bench also ordered action against Surjani Town SHO Imtiaz Ahmed for filing a report without stating any progress on locating whereabouts of Muhammad Arif, an alleged missing person.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th,  2016.