LAHORE: A full bench of the Lahore High Court has been formed to hear a matter relating to flaws in the digitisation of Punjab police records.

Headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, the bench will resume its hearing after the ongoing summer vacation ends in September. Justice Farooq Haider and Justice Ali Zia Bajwa are the other two members of the full bench. Justice Bajwa, who was hearing the matter in a single bench, had recommended that the Chief Justice constitute a larger bench to decide the issue.

In its proceedings, the single judge was critical of the performance of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) and the conduct of its chairman. The judge also took exception to allegations of tampering with police records.

The judge observed that the computerisation and digitisation of police records opened the floodgates for fabrication and alteration, resulting in violations of the fundamental rights of both complainants and the accused in the cases.

The single judge was of the view that a larger bench should decide the matter, given its potential to set a precedent that will guide future jurisprudence.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2024