ISLAMABAD: Over 11,000 proclaimed offenders and court absconders are wanted to the capital police in connection with various criminal activities, including terrorism, murder, rape, kidnapping, robberies and thefts.

Officials of the capital police told Dawn on condition of anonymity that out of the total 4,480 were proclaimed offenders (POs) and 7,100 were court absconders.

The number of POs rose to 4,480 from 3,273 since 2018mainly due to capital police lack of interest in their arrest, besides registration of more cases during the period, they added.

Some of the POs and court absconders have been at large for the last couple of decades, the officers added.

The capital police do not have any details of the POs and the court absconders to trace and arrest, they said, adding that earlier, details, including CNICs and addresses of only 15pc POs and court absconders were available with the police as a result the police did not make any fruitful efforts to trace and arrest them.

Now the investigation wing of the capital police collected details of 60pc POs and court absconders including their family trees, CNICs numbers, addresses and criminal history, they added.

Nadra was also approached to get the CNICs of 85pc POs and court absconders blocked. Their details were available with the investigation wing, the officers said, adding that blocking of the CNIC forced the accused at large to surrender before the police.

Unblocking of the CNIC is a very difficult process and need verification from police and intelligence and security agencies, they said, adding that the SSP Investigation tasked his subordinates to collect the details of all the POs and court absconders as soon as possible and get their CNICs blocked by Nadra.

Besides, the mobile phone number of the accused and their family members are also being collecting through the CNICs and family tree to track and arrest them, the officers added.

Federal Investigation Agency, including immigration department, is also being approached by the investigation wing to obtain the travel histories of the POs and court absconders if anyone have escaped from the country to avoid their arrest, the officers said, adding that red warrant will be obtained for the arrest of the accused who fled abroad if anyone found in the data of immigration department.

The SSP also asked the investigation officers to take action against the POs and court absconders under Criminal Procedure Code’s section 88 (attachment of property of absconding person), the officers said.

The officers said 975 POs wanted to capital police in connection with heinous nature of crime like terrorism, murder, murder attempt, rape, and kidnapping, besides robbery.

Besides, 3,505 wanted to police in connection with other crimes including hurt, fatal and non-fatal accidents, burglaries, thefts and other charges, they added.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2022