‘Rogue’ cops not arrested despite IHC order

Judge reprimands FIA over failure to detain extortion accused

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday again ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to arrest the policemen involved in kidnapping citizens and demanding extortion.

The agency had submitted submitted a report against the policemen of the Crime Intelligence Agency (CIA) involved in the alleged abduction following the court’s order in June to arrest the accused and conduct an inquiry.

During Monday’s hearing, Justice Babar Sattar expressed surprise over the fact that the accused policemen did not join the investigation despite being booked.

“Did the FIA make any arrest? Was any inquiry conducted against the policemen,” Justice Babar Sattar inquired.

The investigation officer (IO) said that they tried to conduct an inquiry but were unable to track down the accused.

He inquired whether arrest warrants had been issued for the policemen. “If they are not joining the investigation, arrest them,” Justice Babar Sattar said to the investigation officer. “There is one law for everyone. There will be no separate law for the policemen.”

The Islamabad inspector general of police (IGP) had suspended the assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and three constables, the IGP’s lawyer told the court.

“The junior officers were suspended but the senior officer wasn’t,” Justice Babar Sattar remarked.

The court also sought a written reply to the contempt of court’s show-cause notice, adding that there would be a hearing on the notice if the answer was not satisfactory.

The court then adjourned the hearing of the case. It must be noted here that a case of kidnapping and extortion was registered against 10 officials of Islamabad police. The FIA registered a case against the deputy superintendent of police (DSP), an ASI and eight constables.

The IHC had ordered to register a case against all those police officials involved in kidnapping and extortion.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2023.