Show-cause notice: ATC summons officer who released UTP without informing court

Inspector Naeem Awan was tasked with the investigations of a cop’s murder

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism courts' administrative judge issued on Saturday a show-cause notice to a police inspector who released a suspected murderer without informing the court beforehand.

Inspector Naeem Awan of Aram Bagh police station was tasked with the investigations of a policeman murder case recently. He was given the suspect, Rehan alias Sheena, on physical remand for interrogation and was directed to inform the court about progress being made.

On Saturday, the administrative judge was informed by a junior investigation officer that the suspect was released as during questioning he was not found involved in the case.

The judge, however, expressed displeasure and observed that it was not the discretion of the police to release a suspect given into remand. The court decides if the investigations cannot find any clue, the judge ruled.

Concluding the hearing, the judge issued show-cause notice to Inspector Awan and directed him to appear in person and explain on what grounds the suspect was released. The suspect, in question, was arrested by Rangers some three months ago. He was later handed over to police for a murder which he reportedly confessed before a joint interrogation team.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2016.