LHC summons Punjab IG over alleged police violation of court order

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Aalia Neelum has summoned Punjab Inspector General of Police Rao Abdul Kareem in person over allegations that Lahore police violated a court order.

The chief justice issued the summons while hearing a contempt petition filed by citizen Mian Muhammad Jamil against personnel of Chung police. Superintendent of Police Abdullah appeared before the court on behalf of the police.

The petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Shahbaz Bhatti, told the court that an LHC single bench had suspended a 2021 sessions court order directing the registration of a first information report (FIR) against his client.

Despite the court’s decision, the lawyer alleged that police proceeded to register a case against Jamil.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Neelum asked SP Abdullah to read the FIR before the court. The officer was unable to clearly read or explain its contents.

The chief justice expressed concern over the manner in which the FIR had been prepared and questioned why the document was difficult to read.

Justice Neelum criticised the quality of the document and remarked that similar problems appeared to exist across Punjab.

The court subsequently directed IG Rao Abdul Kareem to appear personally on Thursday along with the relevant record.

The Punjab police chief was also summoned in another contempt case involving allegations of police harassment in Lahore.

In that matter, citizen Momin Khan claimed that police officials continued to harass him despite previous court directions. His counsel said an earlier petition had been referred to the Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) for action, but the alleged harassment continued.

The lawyer argued that the police had failed to comply with the court’s instructions and requested contempt proceedings against the CCPO.

Justice Neelum rejected an inquiry report submitted in the case and ordered IG Kareem to appear before the court on Thursday.