Unofficial ‘perks’: Inquiry into misuse of impounded cars ordered
Court directed authorities to initiate an inquiry against officials.
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday directed an Islamabad District and Sessions judge as well as the city’s chief commissioner and Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take action against judges, district administration officials and police who have illegally obtained unclaimed cars from police custody.
The court also directed the authorities to initiate an inquiry against officials who were involved in handing the over of the confiscated vehicles. They were also asked to submit reports within 15 days to the IHC registrar and to include the inquiry findings in the Annual Confidential Reports (ACR) of all the officials.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui conducted proceedings on a petition filed by Muhammad Zahir Khan through his counsel Malik Tahir regarding car thefts and alleged illegal use of unclaimed cars by certain officials.
The bench sought a report from the Islamabad IGP to inform the court why the police did not follow the law and auction the confiscated cars.
Justice Siddiqui remarked that due to non-adoption of the auction policy devised for confiscated cars, people were acquiring them illegally through various means.
The petitioner had also asked the court to have his car released from the police, after it was impounded by the Anti-Car Lifting Cell and was under the usage of the police officials.
However, the bench dismised the petition after the police informed the court that Khan’s car did not have an authentic Chassis number and the vehicle had been tampered with.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2012.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday directed an Islamabad District and Sessions judge as well as the city’s chief commissioner and Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take action against judges, district administration officials and police who have illegally obtained unclaimed cars from police custody.
The court also directed the authorities to initiate an inquiry against officials who were involved in handing the over of the confiscated vehicles. They were also asked to submit reports within 15 days to the IHC registrar and to include the inquiry findings in the Annual Confidential Reports (ACR) of all the officials.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui conducted proceedings on a petition filed by Muhammad Zahir Khan through his counsel Malik Tahir regarding car thefts and alleged illegal use of unclaimed cars by certain officials.
The bench sought a report from the Islamabad IGP to inform the court why the police did not follow the law and auction the confiscated cars.
Justice Siddiqui remarked that due to non-adoption of the auction policy devised for confiscated cars, people were acquiring them illegally through various means.
The petitioner had also asked the court to have his car released from the police, after it was impounded by the Anti-Car Lifting Cell and was under the usage of the police officials.
However, the bench dismised the petition after the police informed the court that Khan’s car did not have an authentic Chassis number and the vehicle had been tampered with.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2012.