Death in custody Judge orders production of police officials

The judge directed DIG (Operations) to appear before the court and explain the non-compliance of court orders.

LAHORE:

Additional District and Sessions Judge Rai Muhammad Ayub Khan Marth said on Wednesday that the police were playing hide and seek with the court. The judge was referring to police officers, that were allegedly involved in beating a man to death, who have neither been arrested nor produced before the court despite dismissal of their bails by the Lahore High Court.

The judge also directed DIG (Operations) to appear before the court and explain the non-compliance of court orders. The judge also issued a show cause notice to the CIA SP for not submitting a reply.

The judge directed DIG (Operations) to arrest Assistant Sub Inspector Shakeel Ahmed Butt, Constables Muhammad Ahsan and Mahboob Elahi to produce them before the court till January 28.

The judge had, earlier, issued several notices and non-bailable arrest warrants but the officers never appeared before the court.

At the previous hearing, the judge had directed the Capital City Police Officer to depute an officer, not below the rank of DSP, to arrest the accused men and produce them before the court. This was not done.

On January 18, ASI Shakeel Ahmed Butt CIA Ghaziabad, Constable Muhammad Ahsan CIA Ghaziabad and Constable Mehboob Elahi pf CIA Ghaziabad allegedly took Naimat Ali into custody and beat him to death for his suspected role in a criminal matter.

Ali’s relatives placed his body on the road and protested against the police. On the direction of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif a case was registered against the police officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2013.