SHC directs IGP to post law graduates in police teams as IOs

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday directed the provincial inspector general of police to post newly recruited law graduates in the investigation teams of all police stations of Karachi as investigation officers (IOs).

During a hearing of bail application of Zulfiqar Ali in a rape case, a single bench headed by Justice Amjad Ali Sahito observed that investigations in different cases were not being conducted properly and accused took advantage as result.

The additional prosecutor general submitted that law graduate police officers were being appointed in the Karachi region as investigation officers. He, however, submitted that these law graduate officers could not be appointed to all police stations of Karachi.

The court directed the IGP to ensure the posting of newly recruited law graduate police officers in police stations and the investigation department and submit a compliance report.

The crime and investigation DIG also filed a compliance report submitting that all possible efforts were being taken to improve the investigation system in Karachi as well as in other districts of the province.

He submitted that 3,969 cases were registered in 2022, 4,160 cases in 2023 and 2,091 cases of rape and sexual offences were registered in 2024 and it is not possible to investigate all these cases with the teams of three police officers.

He submitted that the notification with regard to dealing with schedule offence cases was modified later on and such cases were categorized in schedule-I and schedule-II which can be investigated by a joint team as well as an individual investigation officer. He also sought modification of its order to the extent of action against police officers.

The court after taking the report on record directed the IGP to post newly recruited law graduates in the investigation teams of police stations of Karachi and submit a compliance report on the next date of the hearing.

The court had earlier observed that rape and sexual offence cases are investigated by the special sexual offence investigation unit, which was established by the then IGP in all district of the province comprising three police officers — that is a DSP, an inspector and a sub-inspector.

The court had directed the DIG to explain non-compliance with such a policy as in the instant case the investigation was conducted by only a sub-inspector, and other two members of the team, which are a DSP and an inspector, had not part of the investigation, which was a clear violation of the notification issued by the IGP in pursuance of the Anti-Rape (investigation and trial) Act 2021.