Lack of resources hinders swift resolution of murder cases

Not a single arrest made relating to 10 murders on June 1.

RAWALPINDI:

Much like other major cities of Pakistan, where killings, murders, kidnappings and other crimes are commonplace, the garrison city Rawalpindi frequently plays host to horrific incidents. Violent crime is nothing new to the city, but anomalies such as the murders of 10 people in separate incidents in a single day on the first day of this month, could force even the coldest person to pause and take note.

One such horrific incident occurred in Muslim Town, when the police recovered the bodies of four siblings --- Shamim, Sajida, Tahira and their brother Saleem. The bodies were recovered by the police from a house after area residents complained about the stench coming from the home. According to the police, the bodies bore no visible torture marks and the incident remains shrouded in mystery. The police are still waiting the postmortem reports, which are pending with a medical examiner. The police initially claimed that a dispute over a property led to the murders. However, they are waiting for the report to help determine cause of death and other possible motives.

Similarly, two Afghan brothers were killed in the limits of the Naseerabad police on the same day allegedly over an old enmity. The police later stopped investigation into the murders of Ghani Khan and Aslam Khan, claiming that the alleged murderer, Saad Agha, had fled to Afghanistan.



Meanwhile, two more people lost their lives in the Lehtrar area of Kotli Sattian on the same day. Arshad and his nephew, Ajmal, were killed by seven attackers, allegedly over a family feud. Kotli Sattian SHO Akbar Abbas said two assailants including Sufi Nawaz had been arrested by the police, while five suspects are still at large.

On the same day, unknown motorcyclists killed Rasheedur Rehman, a resident of Dhok Lakhan, and fled the scene. No arrests have been made in the case.

Similarly, a man killed his sister. Komal, 24, was shot dead by her brother, Masood. Though the police lodged a case, no headway had been made to ascertain the cause of the murder, as the alleged assailant is still at large.

Except for lodging three FIRs, the police are clueless. Meanwhile, Rawalpindi CPO Abdul Razzaq Cheema, is of the opinion that the investigation department needs drastic revamp as far as the investigations of murder cases are concerned. He conceded that his subordinates have failed to live up to his expectations.

The investigation into the murder of the four siblings was turned into a mockery by Sadiqabad SHO Tanveer Waraich, who ‘justified’ the slow pace of the investigation by saying that they were “not the American police” and could not be expected to quickly resolve murder cases.

The availability of ample resources is sine qua non for breaking any investigation, but professional dedication to the pursuance of justice is also an integral part of the police’s duty.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2013.