PESHAWAR, May 15: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan on Tuesday observed that the continued violation of the Constitution would create misunderstandings and hatred in the minds of the people against security agencies.

He made the observation as the head of a two-member bench hearing various missing person cases.

The CJ said some organisations were driving a wedge between the army and the people and that security agencies were not above the law.

“They (agencies) should abide by the law otherwise the court will force them to follow laws,” he said, adding that everyone had to follow the Constitution.

Justice Dost Mohammad said everyone should think about the country’s survival. He said the army had rendered great sacrifices for the country and the agencies shouldn’t force people to come to streets against them.

The CJ said it was illegal to detain innocent people for years and the law should be followed by the relevant departments in this respect.

“The court will force security agencies to follow the law while taking any action,” he said.

Also in the day, Kohat SP (investigation) Attiqullah Wazir, who is investigating the alleged girl kidnapping and gang rape, told the bench that 13 of the 16 accused in the case had been given polygraph tests whose reports would be available on May 25.The main accused, Hakeem Khan, who was also in attendance, offered unconditional apology to the court for contempt through an application. The bench, however, deferred the decision on the application until next hearing. The investigation officer told the court that polygraph test on the alleged rape victim would be conducted for the second time on May 21 and that all tests were conducted through the Forensic Science Agency of Lahore. The court exempted DIG Idress Khan from appearing on the next hearing.

The same bench also extended the stay order against fuel surcharge in electricity bills until June 19 and directed the Peshawar Electric Supply Company to avoid charging it until further orders.