LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Wednesday showed serious displeasure over the inefficiency of the police in arresting the suspects despite dismissal of bail.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi was hearing a petition, at the Lahore registry, against Sargodha police for not arresting a suspect even after seven months of the bail rejection.

Sargodha district police officer (DPO) told the bench that a committee had been constituted and the suspect would be arrested within a week.

The bench observed that the incidents involving escape of the suspects from the courts after denial of bail had become a routine affair.

A provincial law officer stated that a circular had been issued to all police officers of Punjab for the arrest of the suspects who were not on bail. He pointed out that as many as 545 suspects had been denied pre-arrest bail by the sessions courts of the province. Of them, 322 had been arrested so far, he added.

During the hearing, Justice Naqvi also took notice of the appearance of an additional IG without uniform. The officer claimed that the rules allowed him to appear without uniform before the court.

The judge observed that it seemed the officer had no idea what he was saying and where he was standing.

The bench directed the Sargodha police to arrest the suspect, who had been denied bail, in two days and submit a compliance report.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2020