Police has no right to interfere in citizens’ personal lives, says LHC
Judge tells senior officers that after amendments to Hudood Ordinance, police has no such jurisdiction.
LAHORE:
Police has no right to interfere in the personal lives of citizens, the Lahore High Court has said after it took notice of police raids on hotels and guest houses.
Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik was hearing a petition seeking the disposal of a case registered against All Pakistan Muslim League leader Ghulam Mohiuddin and 36 men and women arrested from his guest house.
Civil Lines SP Investigation Liaqat Ali Malik told the court that a police team had raided petitioner Mohiuddin’s guest house to arrest proclaimed offenders but failed. However, during the raid, police caught 17 men and 19 women involved in ‘immoral’ activities.
Justice Malik rejected the officer’s argument, saying that police always gives this stereotypical reason in such cases.
The judge summoned DIG Operations Ghulam Mehmood Dogar and SSP Investigation Abdul Razzaq Cheema on short notice and deferred proceedings until their arrival. After both officers appeared in court, hearing was resumed.
Dogar requested the judge to hear his version in the chamber instead of open court but the request turned down. Both the DIG and the SSP failed to justify police raids on guest houses.
“Do you know that after the amendment in Hudood Ordinance, police has no jurisdiction to carry out raids on guest houses or hotels?” Justice Malik asked both officers. “Police raid guest houses only to extort money and to harass people.”
The judge remarked that police has no right to dishonour people on the pretext of arresting proclaimed offenders, adding that police must get permission from a sessions court before raiding a guest house or a hotel.
He warned police officers to be careful in the future and directed the petitioner to approach the trial court for redressal of his grievance.
Police has no right to interfere in the personal lives of citizens, the Lahore High Court has said after it took notice of police raids on hotels and guest houses.
Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik was hearing a petition seeking the disposal of a case registered against All Pakistan Muslim League leader Ghulam Mohiuddin and 36 men and women arrested from his guest house.
Civil Lines SP Investigation Liaqat Ali Malik told the court that a police team had raided petitioner Mohiuddin’s guest house to arrest proclaimed offenders but failed. However, during the raid, police caught 17 men and 19 women involved in ‘immoral’ activities.
Justice Malik rejected the officer’s argument, saying that police always gives this stereotypical reason in such cases.
The judge summoned DIG Operations Ghulam Mehmood Dogar and SSP Investigation Abdul Razzaq Cheema on short notice and deferred proceedings until their arrival. After both officers appeared in court, hearing was resumed.
Dogar requested the judge to hear his version in the chamber instead of open court but the request turned down. Both the DIG and the SSP failed to justify police raids on guest houses.
“Do you know that after the amendment in Hudood Ordinance, police has no jurisdiction to carry out raids on guest houses or hotels?” Justice Malik asked both officers. “Police raid guest houses only to extort money and to harass people.”
The judge remarked that police has no right to dishonour people on the pretext of arresting proclaimed offenders, adding that police must get permission from a sessions court before raiding a guest house or a hotel.
He warned police officers to be careful in the future and directed the petitioner to approach the trial court for redressal of his grievance.