LAHORE, June 29: A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Thursday observed that contrary to the assurances given by police high-ups the department had done nothing to restore its credibility and win people’s confidence.

Comprising Justice Khawaja Mohammad Sharif andJustice M A Shahid Siddiqui, the LHC bench also observed that police resorted to unlawful acts with impunity without caring for social or legal restraints.

The court made the observations when Punjab Police Inspector-General Maj Ziaul Hasan (retired) appeared to explain non-implementation of an LHC order by a DIG in proceeding against four Daska police officials in a narcotics case.

The court gave the IG a period of 30 days to obey its instructions and submit a positive report regarding the implementation of the order.

Upon the court observation, the IG submitted that the department was earning a bad name because of a few black sheep in its ranks. He assured the court that he would proceed against such elements in the force, which must assume a people-friendly role leaving behind its past conduct.

The court had found during the proceedings of a bail application in a case of recovery of 48kg marijuana, that Daska police had resorted to flagrant irregularities in operation and investigation. The Daska police, according to investigation, had operated outside their jurisdiction while conducting a raid for the recovery of the drug. Even after the recovery, the police kept the case property in its unlawful custody, and later involved Mohammad Arshad and Mohammad Afzal in the case. Later, the accused were found to be innocent in a police probe.

Proceeding on a bail petition moved by the brother of an accused, the court took serious notice of the irregularity and ordered the DIG to suspend inspectors Mohammad Azam and Suhail Ahmad, sub-inspector Munawwar Ali and an ASI from the service.

The court also directed the DIG to register a criminal case against the officials, and let law take its course against them. But, the DIG confined his action to withhold one annual increment each of the four police officials. The writ petition made a mention of the DIG’s action, of which the court took serious notice and summoned the IG.