ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday questioned the Islamabad Police’s capability to properly investigate criminal cases.

IHC Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro raised serious questions over investigations conducted by the Islamabad police in four cases, including a murder case, warning that the court would take action if the investigation system was not improved.

Justice Soomro, while hearing the cases, expressed displeasure over the manner in which the investigations were being conducted and summoned the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Islamabad to the courtroom to explain the position.

Addressing the SSP, the judge observed that four cases had come before the court and investigations in all four had not been conducted properly.

Justice Soomro warns of action over defective probes

“These are four cases and the investigation was not done properly in all of them,” the court remarked, adding that when a matter comes before the high court, it has to decide the case on the basis of the investigation conducted by the police.

The judge observed that the court had to do “paper justice” and, if the investigation was defective, it was left with no option but to provide relief to an accused.

“Your inquiry and investigation are such that we have to give bail,” Justice Soomro remarked.

The court also questioned why the quality of investigations by the Islamabad Police was not improving despite the comparatively better salaries being offered to its investigation officers.

Justice Soomro observed that an investigation officer of the Islamabad police was receiving a salary of up to Rs100,000, whereas an investigation officer in the Sindh Police was being paid around Rs40,000. Despite the difference in salaries, he noted, investigations in Sindh were comparatively better.

The judge further observed that during the last one-and-a-half years, the court had not summoned any senior police officer over investigation-related issues.

“We have not called any senior officer here in one and a half years. We do not even think it is good that any senior officer should be called to court,” he remarked. However, he said the situation had now compelled the court to summon the SSP.

“In these 14 days, these four cases came after which you have been called,” Justice Soomro observed, adding that the court had examined the records and found that the investigations in all four cases had been mishandled.

The judge told the SSP that the situation had gone beyond the level of tolerance and warned the police leadership to take immediate steps to improve the investigation system.

“Things are beyond tolerance. This is a warning for the future of our institution,” the judge cautioned.

Justice Soomro directed the SSP to convey his concerns to the Inspector General of Police Islamabad and make efforts to ensure that investigations were conducted strictly in accordance with the law.

“If the investigation does not go well in any future case, I will write against the Islamabad police,” the court warned.

The judge further directed the SSP to send a clear message to the IG Islamabad that the high court would not overlook defective investigations in the future.

“If the investigation goes badly in future, we will issue an order,” Justice Soomro cautioned.

The court made it clear that the responsibility of investigating agencies was not limited to registering cases and arresting suspects, but also extended to properly collecting evidence and presenting a complete investigation before the court.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2026