PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice SM Attique Shah on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the weak and ineffective police investigation in a missing person case, warning that he may order registration of a case against the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The remarks came during the hearing of a writ petition filed for the recovery of Amin Akbar, who went missing from the jurisdiction of Inqilab Road Police Station.During proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel, the additional advocate general, the focal person for missing persons, and police officials appeared before the court.
Lawyers for the petitioner Yasmeen Bibi informed the court that the missing person had disappeared from the limits of Inqilab Police Station and no progress had been made in identifying who abducted him or why.
The chief justice questioned the police about progress in the case and was told that the investigation was going on. Expressing frustration, he remarked that police performance was “zero” and questioned why the investigation had not been completed.
He asked why individuals who last spoke to the missing person had not been interrogated and criticised delays, noting that it took nine days for the investigation officer to obtain call detail records (CDR).
The chief justice said that the court would now have to teach the police how to conduct investigations, adding that officers were paid from taxpayers’ money and must fulfil their responsibilities rather than treat their duties as favours.
He questioned how a person could go missing from an area without the SHO having any knowledge and said such claims were unacceptable. He warned that if proper progress was not made, the IGP would be summoned.
The court directed the police to conduct a complete investigation, including details of all persons contacted by the missing person, and to submit a report.The hearing was adjourned until April 27, with the court seeking a detailed response from the police authorities.
