LAHORE, April 15: The Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the city police chief to terminate from service a sub-inspector and an ASI of Ghalib Market police station, register criminal cases against them and submit a report within one month.

The court issued the order on a writ petition filed by Muhammad Rafi against SI Badar Munir and ASI Abdul Jabbar and others for snatching money from his son Imran Ali, torturing him, keeping his daughter in custody and putting pressure on the family for withdrawing their complaints.

The court was told that orders of removal from service of both the officials have already been issued after they were found guilty during an inquiry. The court, however, observed that mere termination from service was not enough to punish their unlawful acts.

"Therefore, criminal cases should also be registered against them and SSP should investigate these cases under his direct supervision." The petitioner submitted that his son Imran was intercepted at a picket near Sanglanwala Darbar and was deprived of Rs4,600 in cash by the policemen. When he filed a complaint before the SSP, the police officials became vindictive and involved his son in a fake case.

Later, they entered his house, took away Rs125,000 in cash and kidnapped his daughter. He said police also took some notables of the area into custody when they opposed their action for which people protested and blocked road. -APP