Lahore: A man detained in a ‘theft case’ was injured seriously when he jumped from the building of Gulshan-e-Ravi police station on Friday. Suspect Zaheer Ahmed was hospitalised for fracture treatment.

He was among four other suspects being interrogated in the police station in a theft case, a police official said.

There were reports that no case was lodged against any of the four suspects and they were taken into custody on suspicion.

Quoting Zameer, a police official said investigation officers allegedly tortured him and other suspects pressuring them to confess certain crimes and warned of third degree torture.

Following the incident, the police high ups issued show cause notices to the muharrar of the police station, investigation officer of the case, in charge of investigation and the circle DSP. The Iqbal Town SP investigation was spared from action “for being an officer”, said the source.

On the other hand, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Inam Ghani held an important meeting with officers on custodial deaths, torture of suspects and abuse of powers at the police satations. He sought a list of police officers involved in such matters in a bid to address such complaints at police stations and improve the system of investigation.

Addressing the meeting, the IGP directed the senior police officers to provide him the number of cases regisered against the police officials under section 155 C in the last 10 years who were involved in in custodial deahts, torture and abuse of powers.

He said the detailed reports of the cases should be prepared and sent to the Central Police Office (CPO) in a month.

Mr Ghani also issued instructions to the wing of the police in the CPO to analyse the cases to identify the officers who have been nominated several times in such cases like torture, death and escape of the suspects in police custody.

“The additional IGs of establishment, investigation and internal accountability branch should jointly prepare a detailed report regarding the above-mentioned cases to further take initiative,” the IG Punjab said.

He warned that those responsible for violence and deaths in police custody do not deserve any concession and strict departmental and legal action would be taken under zero tolerance against them.

He added the copies of certificates warning letters and show cause notices issued to the officers should also be sent to the IG office, DIG headquarters and AIG monitoring. — ahsan

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2020