Reporting a crime: Take a FIR[m] step

Registering an FIR is not as complicated as you may think

It is common for people in Pakistan to be wary and reluctant of filing an FIR (First Information Report), which is the first step towards prodding the justice system in the country. This is mainly because they are unsure of how to go about it. One of the most common misconceptions about the issue is that you need to be the victim of a crime to file an FIR. That, however, is not the case. You can also be a witness or simply someone who has information about an offence. Even a police officer can file an FIR if they are aware of a crime.

Here are the steps that will take you through the filing process for the police to consider your case open for investigation:



The first step is to go to the police station nearest to where the crime or incident took place. Register your FIR there as these crimes fall under a certain jurisdiction according to the 1934 Police Rules. If you file it at another station, then your case will be transferred to the appropriate station and this may take time.



You have to make a report of the incident to the police, either orally or in writing. You can write out your statement in Urdu or the police will write it for you.



You must sign the document and the officer in charge will sign it as well. Since this is a legal document, one should be careful when giving facts. Try to give as many details and relevant information that you feel may be important to the case.



You have the right to ask the police officer to loudly read out your oral statement and anything else that they have written down.



Individuals who cannot read or write can put their left thumb print on the document.



You should be handed a copy of the registered FIR free of cost. If you are not given a copy, you can demand for one.



Anyone who lodges a false charge of an offence, made with the intent to injure a person’s reputation, can be prosecuted under section 211 of the 1860 Pakistan Penal Code.



By law, the police cannot investigate if the case is not serious in nature, if there is not enough ground to investigate or if police resources are already over-committed to investigating more serious offences. But the police must give reasons for not conducting an investigation and record these reasons as per section 157 of the 1898 Code of Criminal Procedure.



Never make a false complaint or provide incorrect information as you can be prosecuted under the law for misleading the police under section 182 of the 1860 Pakistan Penal Code.



Anyone who refuses to sign the registered FIR can be prosecuted under section 180 of the 1860 Pakistan Penal Code.



Any complaints can be made in person or in writing and mailed to the District Police Officer, Capital City Police Office, Deputy Inspector General, Provincial Police Officer or the District Public Safety and Police Complaints in your district. A private complaint can also be filed in court.

Simoneel Chawla is a subeditor for The Express Tribune Magazine. She tweets @simoneelc

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, September 28^th, 2014.