Police probe faulted for low conviction rate

Low conviction rates for serious criminal cases in Rawalpindi have cast a spotlight on the police's lacklustre investigation standards and their failure to present compelling evidence in court.

As case after case sees acquittals due to incomplete or faulty evidence, concerns are mounting about the capabilities of local law enforcement and the implications for justice in Rawalpindi.

The drop in convictions highlights significant lapses in the investigative process, with delays and procedural gaps now commonplace in the police department.

In the first nine months of 2024, the conviction rate across the district fell to an alarming low, particularly in severe criminal cases such as murder, rape, and drug-related offences. According to court data, between January 1 and September 30, a total of 63,150 cases were presented in the Rawalpindi district's sessions and civil magistrate courts.

Out of these, verdicts were issued in 22,245 cases, while the remaining 40,905 cases remain unresolved. Only 2,010 of these cases resulted in convictions, while 5,959 defendants were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

Further complicating the situation, 13,891 suspects managed to abscond after being granted bail, often because police failed to present the complete investigation reports—known as challans—in time.

The problem extends to the high court level, where the conviction rate for the accused in the district has dwindled to a dismal 4 per cent.

Despite some initial convictions in lower courts, many of these rulings were overturned upon appeal. For instance, in 58 cases related to kidnapping and rape, only two ended in convictions, with the remaining defendants acquitted.

Similarly, drug cases saw only 130 convictions, whereas 364 cases were declared false by the courts, leading to acquittals. In financial fraud and cases involving bounced checks, 21 individuals were convicted, while 232 defendants walked free due to investigative failings.

Murder cases reflect a similar trend, with only 51 convictions out of numerous cases, while 92 individuals were released as police statements failed to hold up in court due to inconsistencies.

Among 1,151 theft, robbery, and break-in cases, a mere 279 accused were convicted, and all others were acquitted.

Supreme Court advocate and criminal case expert Shaan Zeib Khan attributes the problem to outdated investigative methods, suggesting that Rawalpindi police are still operating under investigative practices dating back to the 1960s and 1990s.

Khan criticises the reliance on assumptions rather than forensic evidence, adding that the limited resources allocated to police investigations exacerbate the situation. He points to a lack of funding for necessary investigative steps, such as arrests and forensic testing, which often results in weak cases.

This outdated approach leaves investigating officers struggling to meet current evidentiary standards, allowing many defendants to secure acquittals due to procedural errors or incomplete documentation.