FAISALABAD, Sept 22: In a surprise move in the Sonia Naz-cum-motor registration scandal, the investigation of the case registered against suspended SP (Investigation) Abdullah Khalid, Inspector Jamshed Iqbal Chishti and two constables Iqbal — Fareed and Noor Ahmad — has been entrusted directly to the SP (investigation) in violation of rules.

The Sargodha Road police had lodged an FIR against the accused policemen on the recommendation of the one-man tribunal, which held them guilty of breach of duty and keeping people in illegal confinement.

According to usual practice and the Police Order 2002 as well as instructions issued by the Punjab IGP, the investigation of all cases is entrusted to the in-charge of the area police station investigation wing.

Moreover, the investigation can’t be transferred and assigned to any other officer of a particular police station without prior approval of a board, comprising the SP (investigation), the district police officer and the regional SP (investigation).

But the investigation in this particular case has been transferred directly to SP (Investigation) Tauqeer Hayat at the outset on the direction of a senior police officer, information gleaned by Dawn on Thursday revealed.

The Sargodha Road police had registered a case No 721 under section 225-A and 343 of PPC and 155-C & D of the Police Order 2002 against SP Abdullah Khalid, Inspector Jamshed Iqbal Chishti and two police constables the other day on the complaint of SHO Amir Mushtaq, who received recommendations of the one-man tribunal of District and Sessions Judge Abdul Waheed Khan.

According to inquiry report, Asim Yousaf, a resident of Samanabad, was wanted for being involved in cases 253, 298, 299, 172, and 497 registered with the Civil Lines police station. In June 2004, he appeared before SP Abdullah Khalid who handed him over to Sargodha Road police investigation in-charge Jamshed Iqbal Chishti with the order to confine him for four/five days in his custody but without formally registering his arrest.

The SP also directed inspector Chisti to occasionally allow Asim to go to his house. The inspector detained Asim for four/five days in the police station and later on his desire allowed him to go home in Samanabad in the custody of constable Noor Muhammad and Iqbal Fareed, but the suspect managed to escape, read the report. The inquiry officer found SP Abdullah guilty of illegal detention of Asim and his escape from the police custody and recommended appropriate action under the provisions of the PPC and the Police Order 2002, besides the efficiency and discipline rules.