Whodunit: Police have no clue who put up IS flag; FIR sealed

Officials say security cameras found dysfunctional; case registered against unknown persons under anti-terror law

ISLAMABAD:  

 

 

Police high-ups remain tight-lipped over the issue of a flag of international terror group IS, or Da’ish, which was put up by unidentified persons along one of the capital’s main thoroughfares on Sunday. The standard IS flag had an additional slogan: Khilafat is coming.

Though the flag was taken down by the police as soon they were informed by the passers-by, the investigators have so far found no clue to the person(s) who put it up along a pedestrian bridge on Islamabad Expressway.

That the security cameras installed nearby under the Safe City Project were dysfunctional was only found out when policemen tried to check their recording. Police officials say construction work by the Capital Development Authority nearby might have disconnected the cameras.

Though an FIR was registered at the Khanna police station against unknown persons, it was immediately announced that the FIR had been ‘sealed’.

 

PHOTO: Express



“Yes, an FIR has been registered but it has been sealed,” said Khanna SHO Sattar Shah. The FIR was registered under the anti-terror law. Some believe the police sealed the FIR to hide their failure and avoid questions.

Advocate Shah Khalid, an expert on criminal law, said there was no provision in the law that allowed police to seal an FIR. “There is no mention in the CrPC about sealing an FIR. Police must investigate every cognisable offence reported to them,” said Khalid, adding that the police were trying to fool the people by declaring it a ‘sealed’ FIR.

However, another police officer said the FIR was not sealed and the investigation was under way. He said the cameras installed nearby were disconnected due to construction work on the road. Police spokespersons also expressed their lack of knowledge about the case.