Sleuths’ performance hits rock bottom
The performance of Rawalpindi’s police investigation teams has hit its lowest ebb in the first six months of 2024, casting doubt on the effectiveness of professional policing and the relief available to complainants. The investigation system continues to deteriorate, with a significant backlog of cases pending resolution.
Between January 1 and June 30, a total of 19,039 cases were registered across 30 police stations in the district. However, the investigation teams have only submitted complete challans in 1,956 cases, leaving a staggering 17,083 cases pending. Despite this poor performance, only 42 investigating officers faced light departmental action for failing to submit challans promptly. The police are struggling to present challans for serious cases within the designated timeline, making it nearly impossible to meet deadlines.
From January to June, 90-95% of the challans issued by police investigators related to minor offences such as alcohol consumption, liquor sales, drug peddling, possession of weapons, fights, and recovery of dengue larvae. In stark contrast, timely challans were not submitted for serious crimes like murder, robbery, kidnapping, sexual assault, and gang rape. This lapse has allowed accused individuals in these cases to exploit the situation, secure bail from courts, and evade justice.
During this period, the police reported 173 murder cases, 298 attempted murder cases, and 93 traffic accident cases. Additionally, 1,569 robbery cases, 5,280 burglary cases, 545 kidnapping cases, 55 rape cases, 714 drug-related cases, and three abduction cases were registered. Upon investigation, 191 FIRs were deemed false, and the courts dismissed six cases.
Investigative officers lament that the investigation system has been in a constant state of deterioration over the past two years. They attribute this decline to relentless pressure from arrests, espionage, and raids targeting political activists, leaders, and their associates.
According to the officers, investigation teams should be insulated from political entanglements to focus on their core responsibility of investigating crimes. Until the investigation system is overhauled and separated from political interference, delays in submitting challans will persist.
Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior investigation officer disclosed that the investigation process is severely under-resourced. “Even the complete stationery for cases is not provided,” the officer said. “This includes expenses for raids to arrest the accused and transporting evidence to the Lahore Forensic Lab. It's all just recorded on paper, with no actual support.” The officer continued, “The IO has to bear the cost of each case personally. To make matters worse, government transport is not provided to transport the accused from the police station to court and then to Adiala Jail. We have to resort to using private vehicles like rickshaws, Qingqi, motorcycles, and taxis to transport the accused, which often leads to allegations of bribery.”
Retired District and Sessions Judge Shaukat Ali Sajid stated that, according to the law, it is mandatory to submit the challan within 14 days. However, he believes that this timeframe is too short and should be extended to 30 days. For grave offences like murder and gang rape, he recommends a challan submission period of 45 days. Judge Sajid stresses that the criminal justice system urgently needs reforms to align with modern requirements.
Criminal expert and Advocate Supreme Court Shaan Zaib Khan emphasises that the registration of FIR requires a comprehensive overhaul of the entire system of witness statements in the Challan court. He asserts that until this overhaul is completed, issues like delays in challans and police verification will persist. Khan critiques the present criminal system, labelling it “accused-friendly.”
He notes that victims often must spend more money and hire senior lawyers to achieve justice. In his opinion, the prosecution system requires drastic surgery, and he stresses the need for establishing a forensic lab in every division.