To protect and serve: LHC orders action against cops who failed to rescue Farzana

CCPO says procedure barred policemen to leave places of duty.

LAHORE:

A special division bench of Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the capital city police officer (CCPO) to proceed against the policemen who were nearby but failed to rescue Farzana, the 25-year-old woman bludgeoned to death by her relatives near the high court gate on May 27, allegedly for marrying a man of her choice.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial issued the order after going through a report submitted by the CCPO.

Acting Attorney General Mustafa Ramday submitted that administrative proceedings were underway to fix responsibility on the police officials present near the place of occurrence but failed to intervene.

In his report, the CCPO  said police officials assigned to the premises of the LHC and the adjacent Punjab Judicial Academy building could not leave their places of duty under the standard operating procedure (SOP) because that could lead to “some other untoward incident”.

He said police had registered a case against six nominated and 22 unidentified accused and had arrested four nominated and nine unidentified accused. He said they were collecting the evidence and would submit a challan against them within the stipulated time. The court said that the CCPO should ensure that no innocent person was implicated in the case.

The acting advocate general submitted a report in court, stating that no policeman was on duty on the scene of occurrence. He said an inspector from Sialkot, who was visiting the LHC to pursue a case in his official capacity, had snatched a pistol from one of the accused.

The bench, which also included Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik, ordered the CCPO to file a report after conducting the inquiry against the policemen on duty at the LHC gate and also after submission of the challan. The court also sought a report on the security situation in the areas surrounding courts in the province. The court directed the CCPO to ensure security high alert in the vicinity of courts.

Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) president Shafqat Mahmood Chohan said the police did nothing until the court took notice first. The CJ asked Chohan to pursue the case and take it to its logical end.

The bench observed that lack of action by the policemen deputed at the LHC gate put a question mark on their performance. It added that the surrounding areas of courts had become safe havens for criminals. The bench concluded that this was due to police apathy. The court adjourned further hearing until July 10.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2014.