Amicable ending: IGP tenders apology before court

Bench accepts apology, directs addition of more investigation officers

ISLAMABAD: The Inspector General of the Islamabad Police (IGP) tendered an unconditional apology before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for passing “derogatory remarks” against the judiciary.

IGP Tahir Alam Khan was summoned before the IHC a day earlier after the court took notice of language he used in a letter directing investigation officers to attend a refresher course in order to overcome inefficient investigations in narcotics cases.

On Thursday, the IGP appeared before the bench and submitted an unconditional apology, saying that it was never his intent to pass derogatory remarks.

The bench observed that it seemed that unprofessional people have been appointed in the police department as the court has to call police chief time-and-again to call attention to details.

The bench commented that it appeared as if the IGP wrote the letter in a bad mood.

The IGP later said that he has set up an office to monitor narcotics cases in order to overcome flaws during registration of cases.

He also informed the court that the police department was going to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government which would allow the police to conduct drug tests for Rs1,000.

In his reply, Khan said he was trying his best to improve the police department. He also told the court that the notification was issued by his staff without being brought to his notice.

While directing the IGP to add more investigation officers to reduce the workload, the court accepted his unconditional apology and exonerated him from further personal appearances in the case.

The IGP has been appearing before the court in a case pertaining to bail after arrest for a man from whom 10. 2 kilograms was seized, but the test sample was allegedly tainted by investigators.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2015.