KARACHI: A senior civil judge has directed the Karachi police chief to initiate departmental proceedings against the SSP East and the SHO of the Sachal police station for failing to comply with judicial orders.

The direction was issued by Senior Civil Judge, Malir, Waheed Ahmed after examining the responses submitted by the two officials to show-cause notices, as they had allegedly failed to comply with the court’s orders.

The court observed that both had “persistently, intentionally and without any lawful justification, failed to comply with the repeated judicial directions” issued to them.

The directions were issued in a civil suit pertaining to secure possession of a plaintiff’s property, from alleged illegal occupants in Scheme 33. The court had appointed its Nazir and directed both police officials to provide adequate police personnel to secure possession of the property.

Police officers were told to book suspects of firing on Nazir, law-enforcers in a property occupation matter

However, on June 2, when the Nazir, along with police personnel and the revenue officials concerned, visited the property to execute the court orders, the occupants allegedly resorted to indiscriminate firing at the Nazir, police and revenue officials.

Subsequently, the court’s Nazir reported the incident to the Sachal police station and also informed the SSP East through a letter. The court noted that no statement regarding the incident was recorded and no FIR was registered despite the incident being a cognizable offence.

Later, the court also directed both officials to register an FIR, but they did not comply. The court observed, in its order, that “unfortunately, the SHO and SSP Karachi East again failed.” After they failed to comply with the judicial orders, the court issued show-cause notices to both officials on June 27.

In their responses, the police officials on July 1 informed the court that an FIR regarding the incident had been registered. They also submitted their contentions. However, the court expressed its dissatisfaction over their replies.

The court observed that “the conduct of the SHO demonstrates a conscious and continuous disregard of judicial authority, despite repeated opportunities” given to them by the court, adding that the firing upon the police and judicial staff during the execution proceedings constituted an “extraordinary and alarming assault upon the administration of justice itself.”

“Such conduct was not merely an act of criminality but constituted a direct challenge to the authority, dignity and efficacy of judicial process… instead of responding with prompt legal action, the concerned police authorities failed to perform their statutory obligation, thereby emboldening lawlessness and eroding the authority of the court,” it added.

In the order, the court noted: “In order to preserve the authority of judicial process, ensure effective implementation of the orders passed by this court and maintain public confidence in the administration of justice, the Additional Inspector General of Police, Karachi, being the head of the Capital City Police and the competent supervisory authority, is required to take immediate and appropriate administrative measures in accordance with law.”

The court directed the Additional IGP to ensure deployment of an adequate and effective police contingent for the faithful execution of the court order issued in May, within seven days.

It further ordered the Karachi police chief to “initiate appropriate departmental proceedings against the delinquent officials responsible for such misconduct under the applicable service laws and disciplinary rules, and consider replacing the present SHO of police station Sachal with a competent and responsible officer who demonstrates due respect for the rule of law, the authority of the court and the Constitutional obligation to facilitate, rather than frustrate, the administration of justice.”

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2026