A high-level inquiry into the alleged assault of a man and his sister at an apartment in DHA has found serious lapses and alleged partisanship by police officials, recommending departmental action against seven personnel and scrutiny of Korangi SSP Fida Hussain Janwari under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020.
The inquiry report prepared by Zone South police chief DIG Syed Asad Raza and submitted to the Additional Inspector General of Karachi has recommended that the FIR No 578/26 registered against the victim family at the Darakhshan police station be disposed of as false under B-Class as the allegations were not substantiated.
According to the report, a fresh FIR under relevant sections of the law should be registered against Maryam, her daughter and son, and the police officials present at the scene. The victim family has also been advised to pursue legal action against them at its own discretion.
The inquiry found that Darakhshan SHO Inspector Rashid Ali and beat officer ASI Aftab Mangi arrested the victims of the attack at the scene without sufficient evidence. The report termed the arrests unjustified and said the policemen’s conduct suggested a tilt towards the allegedly aggressive party.
The report also criticised the investigation conducted by SIP Imran, stating that he made no serious efforts to collect evidence and failed to apply independent judgment to the investigation.
Departmental proceedings were recommended against the SHO, ASI and another cop Imran for what the inquiry described as a miscarriage of justice. The inquiry further recommended strict departmental action against police constables Taimoor, Amir, Saqib and Haider. It alleged that Taimoor and Amir facilitated one party during the altercation and vandalised a CCTV camera, a conduct which the report said went beyond the scope of lawful duty and bordered on criminal misconduct.
The report said Saqib and Haider allegedly acted in favour of Maryam and her children, neglecting their duty to safeguard the rights of citizens. Their alleged negligence and partisanship contributed to the physical assault and escalation of the situation, the report observed.
It added that had the policemen promptly informed their immediate senior or local police authorities about the developing situation, further escalation could have been prevented. Regarding Korangi SSP Fida Hussain Janwari, the inquiry observed that a lapse in supervision and lack of control over subordinates was evident on his part. The competent authority was requested to examine his overall conduct under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020, and take further necessary action.
The report also recommended that police officers be strictly advised to properly train and supervise personnel assigned for staff duties, ensuring that they act lawfully and treat citizens fairly and respectfully.
It further stressed that in acrimonious situations, police personnel should act according to the law and immediately inform their senior officers instead of taking instructions from family members or other unauthorised persons.
The inquiry was initiated following the circulation of a video showing the alleged assault on the two siblings at an apartment in DHA. The incident had taken place on August 21, while the video surfaced on social media on August 28.
