Dozens of accused released through fraud

Police officials did not verify fake orders of magistrates

LAHORE:

Several incidents of preparation of forged orders of judicial magistrates for release of accused persons from police custody in the city have reportedly been unearthed.

It has been learnt that a group of lawyers in connivance with court staffers prepared forged orders of the magistrates and bail bonds and got released dozens of accused persons from the custody of police officials but no legal proceedings have been initiated against them.

According to sources, over a dozen persons were freed by Johar Town police on the night of September 19 after the presentation of a forged order that Duty Magistrate Noshaba Yousaf had quashed an FIR registered against 17 men and women under sections 371A and 372B of PPC.

The police officials did not bother to examine the order, signatures and stamp. The following day, Advocate Munir Ahmad Bhatti filed an application before the relevant court, seeking verification of the order and signatures through which the FIR was discharged and the accused were released. The matter is still being heard by the magistrate whose stamp and signatures were used.

A similar case occurred with Naseerabad police in FIR 1,178/2021 registered against a number of male and female suspects. They were released allegedly on the basis of forged bail bonds with the signatures and stamp of Judicial Magistrate Zunaira Zafar. Judicial Magistrate Mushtaq Hussain Janjua had sent them on judicial remand. The lawyers sought post-arrest bail of the accused but they were released the same day through forged bonds.

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When the matter came into the notice of Judicial Magistrate Mushtaq Janjua, he examined the record and found out that fake bail bonds had been prepared and the accused released on September 18.

Hearing of the application for post-arrest bails of the accused was fixed for September 20 in court of Magistrate Janjua but the accused had already been released.

The magistrate declared in his order that “as per the report of Ahlmad and reader of this court, bail of the accused petitioners has not been admitted by this court".

According to the order, the investigation officer had released the accused persons without getting the bail order and duly verified bonds.

"CCPO Lahore is directed to initiate criminal proceedings against all concerned who are involved in this matter.”

In another incident, Naseerabad police officials produced suspects before Judicial Magistrate Hafiz Nafees for allegedly having liquor in their possession. The magistrate sent them on judicial remand.

When the IO was taking them outside the premises of the court, some lawyers gave them a phone to talk with a senior colleague who allegedly asked the personnel to free the suspects as the bail bonds would be delivered to them after a few minutes.

Later, Sub Inspector Muhammad Asif reported the incident and demanded verification of the bail bonds.

A delegation of lawyers headed by senior advocate Munir Bhatti met the district & sessions judge, requesting action against the increasing incidents of forged orders, and was assured of action in this regard.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Advocate Bhatti said the practice had continued for several months. He said no action was taken against those who prepared other forged documents, while the CCPO was directed to take action against those involved in preparing forged bail bonds.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2021.