ISLAMABAD: Four police officials, including a former station house officer (SHO) and an investigation officer, of Shahzad Town were removed from service in connection with the abduction and murder case of an eight-year-old girl.

Earlier, a departmental inquiry was initiated against the officials besides a judicial inquiry conducted by the capital administration to establish facts about their negligence in registering a case, initiating investigations and for humiliating the girl’s family at the police station.

A senior officer said the action against the officials was taken in response to findings and recommendations of the inquiry and judicial reports.

On the direction of the deputy inspector general (operations), the four officials were removed from service after they were found guilty of delaying registration of the case, he added.

Besides the SHO and the IO, a head constable (Moharar) and a constable were charged with humiliating the farther of the girl by forcing him to clean the police station.

The officials also kept the family in waiting at the police station when they came there for the registration of a case after Farishta went missing on May 15. Four days later, her decomposed body was recovered.

According to the officer, the four officials can file an appeal with the inspector general of police (IGP). They can also approach the service tribunal and superior courts.

Another police officer said an investigation into a case registered against the former SHO and IO was in progress.

Both the officials were on bail but the legal course would be completed against them and challan would be submitted to court for trial. DIG operations Waqaruddin Syed confirmed to Dawn that the four officials had been removed from service in the light of the reports.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2019