Declassifying secret reports, court holds rogue policeman to account
Peshawar High Court tells SHO to respond to allegations of kidnappings for ransom.
PESHAWAR:
The Peshawar High Court has given a police official seven days to respond to two inquiry reports that found him involved in kidnappings for ransom and running illegal torture cells.
The court also gave a fifteen-day deadline to the police department to close down the detention centres.
The reports, which had previously been confidential, were read out by PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan on Tuesday as a division bench heard a petition filed by Mamala Bibi, in which she had alleged that Hayatabad SHO Rajab Ali had picked up her son Saddam and was keeping him in illegal custody.
"The inquiries found that Ali picks up both elderly people and children, keeps them in private detention centres and demands ransom for their release," the CJ said. "Ali has setup three torture cells at three locations, two in Hayatabad and one at Tarnab, and is also involved in immoral activities."
The chief justice also said that Ali owned more than a dozen costly vehicles and four bungalows, including one in Rawalpindi's Sangjani Town. "You abducted father of Iqbal Hussain and demanded a ransom of Rs2 million. Zain and Noor are your brokers," the chief justice said, addressing the SHO and adding that the court had photos of Ali's torture cells.
"[In influence] he is almost second to the inspector-general. What is the charisma in him, why are many deputy inspectors-general protecting him?" the CJ remarked, ordered the city police chief to transfer Ali to police lines.
Additional Advocate-General Naveed Akhtar then intervened and said that it was not the court's jurisdiction to punish him.
"We are not punishing him," the CJ remarked. "Mr Naveed, do not support corrupt people. You are challenging jurisdictions of the court. Think twice before you speak."
The CJ also ordered that Ali be kept under surveillance and another SHO be posted at Hayatabad within three days.
CJ Khan said that some high profile police officials were protecting Ali, casting suspicion over DSP Rahim Shah as he has shown ignorance of Ali's illegal activities.
"The DSP's role is also doubtful as when everything is known to public, how come the DSP says he does not know anything?" the CJ said, issuing him an order to submit a reply within seven days as well.
"You are not involved in their activities but you have been told not to interfere in their activities," the chief justice told Cantt SP Shabihul Hassan.
The Peshawar High Court has given a police official seven days to respond to two inquiry reports that found him involved in kidnappings for ransom and running illegal torture cells.
The court also gave a fifteen-day deadline to the police department to close down the detention centres.
The reports, which had previously been confidential, were read out by PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan on Tuesday as a division bench heard a petition filed by Mamala Bibi, in which she had alleged that Hayatabad SHO Rajab Ali had picked up her son Saddam and was keeping him in illegal custody.
"The inquiries found that Ali picks up both elderly people and children, keeps them in private detention centres and demands ransom for their release," the CJ said. "Ali has setup three torture cells at three locations, two in Hayatabad and one at Tarnab, and is also involved in immoral activities."
The chief justice also said that Ali owned more than a dozen costly vehicles and four bungalows, including one in Rawalpindi's Sangjani Town. "You abducted father of Iqbal Hussain and demanded a ransom of Rs2 million. Zain and Noor are your brokers," the chief justice said, addressing the SHO and adding that the court had photos of Ali's torture cells.
"[In influence] he is almost second to the inspector-general. What is the charisma in him, why are many deputy inspectors-general protecting him?" the CJ remarked, ordered the city police chief to transfer Ali to police lines.
Additional Advocate-General Naveed Akhtar then intervened and said that it was not the court's jurisdiction to punish him.
"We are not punishing him," the CJ remarked. "Mr Naveed, do not support corrupt people. You are challenging jurisdictions of the court. Think twice before you speak."
The CJ also ordered that Ali be kept under surveillance and another SHO be posted at Hayatabad within three days.
CJ Khan said that some high profile police officials were protecting Ali, casting suspicion over DSP Rahim Shah as he has shown ignorance of Ali's illegal activities.
"The DSP's role is also doubtful as when everything is known to public, how come the DSP says he does not know anything?" the CJ said, issuing him an order to submit a reply within seven days as well.
"You are not involved in their activities but you have been told not to interfere in their activities," the chief justice told Cantt SP Shabihul Hassan.