FIR’s quashing: DSP, SHO accused of fabricating court orders

Lahore High Court summons Shorkot City police officers for April 18.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court has sought comments from the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and the station house officer (SHO) of Shorkot City police station for allegedly twisting the court’s orders to quash an FIR.

Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik issued this order and then adjourned for April 18 on a petition by Muhammad Younas, the complainant of the FIR.

He submitted that he had lodged an FIR for theft nominating Muhammad Siddique, Muhammad Ramzan and ten others at Sorkot City police station on August 19, 2010.

He said that DSP Chaudhry Muhammad Asghar and SHO Malik Muhammad Waris favoured the accused and tried to persuade him, the complainant, to withdraw the case.

He said that after he refused, the policemen advised the accused to file a petition before the LHC to quash the FIR.

They pledged to give statements in favour of the accused, Younas said, even though the DSP (Legal) concerned had given an opinion that the case was legitimate.

Younas said that during the hearing of the quashment petition before Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik, the SHO told the court that the police after investigation had decided to prepare a cancellation report.

He said the accused did not press the petition, so the court disposed of the plea without issuing any direction to the police.

Younas submitted that after the disposal of the petition, the SHO wrote a supplementary report, or zimni, stating, “The court had ordered [police] to prepare a report of cancellation of the case.” He said the DSP also wrote a supplementary report stating, “I certify the findings of the investigation about cancellation of the case.”

Younas said the court had actually issued no such order. He said that by misinterpreting the court’s order, the police officials had committed a heinous offence.

He alleged that the DSP and SHO deliberately misinterpreted the order to favour the accused.

He asked the court to take action against the SHO and DSP for contempt of court and to order departmental action against the accused police officials.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2011.