ASWJ leader’s release: Another inquiry initiated against Junejo

Shahzad Town SHO says SSP, acting SHO violated police act.

ISLAMABAD: It seems that the suspended SSP (operations) Asmatullah Junejo is not yet out of the dock as the capital’s deputy commissioner (DC) has initiated another inquiry against him and acting Shahzad Town SHO Anees Akbar for releasing Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) leader Tanvir Farooqui after he was caught travelling with armed guards on New Year’s night, said official sources.

On January 1, 2015, Junejo and the acting SHO were suspended on charges of showing ‘leniency’ towards Faroouqi’s arrest and his guards for violating Section 144.



A formally inquiry has been initiated by the acting DC under Section 29 of the Police Act, 1861 (Penalties for neglect of duty) in response to an application filed by the Shahzad Town SHO Munawar Ai Mehr, revealed officials close to the development.

Section 29 of act states that every police officer guilty of any violation of duty or neglect shall be liable, on conviction before a magistrate, to a penalty not exceeding three months’ pay or imprisonment for three months, or both.

This is the second inquiry which has been initiated against the suspended officers. Earlier, a departmental inquiry conducted by AIG Azam Temuri found four police officers guilty for releasing Farooqui. The officers included the SP, SDPO, SHO and acting SHO. However, Junejo was cleared in the inquiry and the report was submitted to IGP Tahir Alam Khan.

In a fresh application, the complainant, who was found guilty in the departmental inquiry, has asked the DC to take action against both the suspended SSP and acting SHO. According to the application, the complainant stated that being head of operations, Junejo was bound to supervise the matter personally but he failed to perform his duty in accordance with the law.

“Instead of performing his official duties in accordance with law, the SSP passed an unlawful verbal order to his subordinates to facilitate the suspects by registering bailable offences,” the compliant states.

The complainant has mentioned ten police officers as witnesses who reportedly contend that both officials deliberately failed to perform their duties and has requested that action be taken against them. Both Junejo and the acting SHO will now be summoned to record their statements by the DC, said an official of the capital administration.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2015.