PHC bans police interference in pending civil cases

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has restrained police from interfering in pending civil cases, declaring that law enforcement agencies cannot render decisions in matters already being heard by a civil court.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Farah Jamshid issued the written order during the hearing of a writ petition.
The petitioner, Sifatullah Khan, appeared before the court along with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Additional Advocate General.
During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel informed the court that his client’s case was already pending before a civil court. Despite this, he argued, police were unnecessarily meddling in the matter, harassing the petitioner, and pressuring him into reaching a compromise.
The lawyer further stated that police were convening local jirgas in various areas to resolve land disputes, exerting pressure on affected parties to end conflicts, a practice he termed illegal.
In its written verdict, the court observed that police intervention in civil cases already under judicial consideration constitutes an overreach of authority. The ruling emphasized that when civil cases are sub judice, police cannot independently decide the matter.
According to the petitioner, although his case was already pending before a civil court, police continued to harass him.
The judgment further stated that police officers are bound to perform their duties within the framework of the law.