Probe reveals dull police performance

Delays in interim challan submissions plague Rawalpindi police

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RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi police have come under scrutiny for failing to submit interim challans to courts within the required time frame.

According to sources, the situation has led senior officials to take action.

They said the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation expressed concern over delays in the submission of challans for ongoing cases.

To address the issue, the SSP has instructed station house officers (SHOs) and investigation officers to provide certificates confirming the timely submission of interim challans.

The development emerged during a performance review of investigation officers conducted by senior police officials.

A notification titled "Interim Challan Under Investigation Cases 2024" has since been issued to the divisional police officers of Rawalpindi, including SP Rawal, SP Potohar, and SP Saddar.

According to the notification, a review of case records for 2024 revealed that while numerous cases were registered across the three divisions, investigating officers had failed to submit interim challans to the relevant courts within the stipulated period of 17 days.

The SSP investigation has instructed divisional officers to ensure compliance by directing SHOs and investigators to prepare and submit challans for all pending cases by December 18, 2024.

Additionally, SPs and their staff have been ordered to obtain clearance certificates from SHOs and submit them to the SSP Investigation by December 29, 2024.

Despite these directives, sources indicate that many officers have yet to act, leaving numerous cases in limbo.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, a senior police officer highlighted the legal requirements under Section 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

He explained that police are legally obligated to submit challans to the courts within 14 to 17 days of a case's registration. This process, he noted, ensures that the courts remain informed of case details and police actions, thereby maintaining transparency and accountability.