Proposal: Amendments to Police Order on the card

Dept officials say amended law would increase transparency and efficiency of investigation of cases.


Anwer Sumra January 06, 2012 1 min read

LAHORE:


The government has decided to amend the Police Order 2002.


The decision was taken in December 2011, following several departmental meetings. The proposed changes aim at making the investigation process more transparent and effective.

A police official told The Express Tribune that amendments have been proposed to Articles 18 and 21 of the Order that talks about transfer of investigation and posting of officers.

Under PO 2002, the investigation of a case may be changed once on the recommendation of a district standing board (DSB). If the case needs to be transferred for a second time, this may be done only after orders from a court or with the approval of the inspector general of police.

The department is now proposing that the transfer for a third time may also be allowed.

The department proposed that on recording reasons for the recommendation by the DSB, the district police officer may order transfer of an investigation to another officer or a team within his jurisdiction.

In case of a re-transfer, the regional police officer may transfer the investigation to another officer or a team within his jurisdiction, after recommendations of the regional standing board (RSB). In case of the capital city, it is proposed that the power of transfer of an investigation would be exercised by the CCPO himself.

For transfers for the third time, the department suggested that if the IGP is satisfied with the reasons for the transfer, he may order so.

It is proposed that the investigation staff, except with the approval of the head of the district police, should not be assigned duties other than investigation.

Another amendment will allow “an officer not below the rank of a sub-inspector” to head a police station. In PO 2002, a police station could only be headed by an officer with the rank of an inspector of police.

A Law Department official said that the amended draft would be presented before the cabinet soon for approval and later be tabled in the provincial assembly for approval.

A senior Police Department officer told The Express Tribune that the proposed amendments would bring a positive change in the process of investigation.

The present order, he said, empowered the investigation officer, but the proposed amendments would put a heavy surveillance on him.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2012.

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