PHC dismayed at faulty investigation of cases by police

PESHAWAR: A senior judge of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday expressed dismay at the faulty investigation of cases by police and said the culprits succeed in winning release from courts because of that.

“We are receiving faulty investigation cases daily. It proves police involvement with the accused persons. The police personnel are getting equal share in these cases,” Justice Nisar Hussain Khan, observed this as he ordered the release on bail of a car-snatcher over faulty investigation.

“The judges are tired of issuing directions to the provincial government to improve the standard of investigation. The government did not take the matter seriously. The practice continues without any check,” the judge remarked.

Justice Nisar Hussain Khan said that the accused persons were getting relief from the courts due to faulty investigation, but the department concerned and the government did not take any action.

The honourable judge made the observations in a bail petition of an accused person Abdullah, arrested by the Chamkani police in a car snatching case.

During the hearing, the petitioner lawyer Sifwatullah submitted before the bench that the police some five months ago arrested his client in a car snatching case. He said as per the complainant of the First Information Report, four persons were involved in the car snatching case, but the police did not conduct identification parade in the case. He said that his client was kept in the prison from five months only on confessional statement before the police.

Pointing out the faulty investigation by the police into the case, the lawyer said the police even did not record the statement of the owner of Hujra (or the male guest house) from which the snatched car was recovered. The additional advocate general failed to defend the faulty investigation into the case by the police.

Separately, a division bench of the PHC comprising Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth issued directions to Nadra chairman to upload Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) verification form and other necessary documents on the Nadra website, as the people are able to get the form easily without visiting the offices.

The court took notice of the issue, when it came to know from a representative of Nadra that the petitioners, whose CNICs were blocked could get verification form from the Nadra offices. The bench was hearing dozens of writ petitions filed against the Nadra for blocking the CNICs after suspecting them as Afghan nationals.

During hearing, Saifullah Mohib Kakakhel, counsel for Hazar Gul submitted that his client had filled out the verification form, but still the issue was pending with the Nadra. However, the representative of the Nadra said that a new verification form has been issued and he had to fill it after getting it from the Nadra office.

The bench asked the suspects, whose CNICs were blocked, to appear before the joint verification committee of the Special Branch before the next hearing. The Special Brach was directed to submit reports before next hearing to be held on July 27.