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LAHORE, May 27: Justice Syed Shabbar Raza Razvi of the Lahore High Court has observed that torture in custody is unconstitutional and police officials involved in such an offence must be penalized. The court directed district police officers at Chakwal and Hafizabad to register criminal cases against the offending officials of the two districts, including ASI Khurshid Baig of Hafizabad Sadar police. The DPOs were directed to investigate and report the conduct of other officials of the two districts responsible for torture of the citizens.
The Hafizabad police arrested several persons from the town and handed them over to the Kallar Kahar police where they were kept in illegal confinement for several days and subjected to torture.
The court’s directive came in a habeas corpus petition filed by Mohammad Siddique, a resident of Dohatta Khurd in Pindi Bhattian, Hafizabad district, alleging that the police took his brother Jaffar Ali, his nephews Riasat Ali and Liaquat Ali, Akmal Husain, Shaukat Ali, Saifullah and eight-year old Mohammad Tufail in custody without a criminal charge. The bailiff reported to the court that the Hafizabad police misbehaved with him. He particularly named ‘moharrar’ Deedar Husain, ASI Khurshid Baig and constable Mukhtar and also reported that the SHO did not turn up to show him the official record.
The bailiff reported that he found that the police record had no entry of the arrest of the persons whose number was said to be seven. Justice Razvi observed that police had vast powers to arrest but only in accordance with the law. The police were not authorized to torture even the accused persons in custody.FIA officials ‘harass’ woman
LAHORE, May 27: Two FIA officials have reportedly been found guilty of harassing a woman for allegedly giving illegal protection to Russian girls. Sources told Dawn on Friday that FIA Assistant Director Gohar Sarfraz and inspector (legal) Munawar Iqbal Ranjha of the passport circle (Lahore) raided the house of Nadra Begum, alias Hina Khan, at the Canal View Housing Society on information that she had illegally given shelter to some Russian girls.
Sources said the officers asked Ms Khan to produce immigration papers of the foreigners staying with her, but she could not do so. However, Ms Khan and the officials allegedly struck a deal and the matter was resolved.
They said Ms Khan, later, filed an application with the FIA director-general alleging that the two officers harassed them and also extorted money. Ms Khan, they said, ran a brothel.
The DG appointed Special Investigation Unit Deputy Director Safdar Malik an inquiry officer. Both officers have been transferred and directed to report to the FIA headquarters in Islamabad in the light of the inquiry report, which declared them guilty.
Sources said the inquiry officer had conducted the preliminary inquiry and the director of Lahore would further investigate the matter. However, the suspects denied having harassed the women and pocketing money.
They said Gohar Sarfraz, who had joined the FIA on deputation last year, would be sent back to his parent department (Airport Security Force) after the completion of the inquiry.
A senior officer of the FIA told this reporter that those who joined the agency on deputation were keen on making some bucks fast. He suggested that a special committee should be constituted to place officers on deputation, especially in the immigration and passport wings.—ZULQERNAIN TAHIR
