‘How do bullets find detainees only, leaving officers and their vehicles untouched?’
LAHORE
Chief Justice (CJ) Lahore High Court (LHC) Aalia Neelum has directed IG Police Punjab to review police encounters conducted by Counter Crime Department (CCD) .
CJ LHC Aalia Neelum gave these remarks during hearing of petition filed by one Farhat Bibi Wednesday.
IG Police Punjab appeared in the court.
Assistant Advocate General (AAG) Muhammad Waqas presented report in the court on behalf of IG Punjab.
During the course of hearing the state counsel told the court the police was taking back the accused after recovery that tyre of police vehicle got punctured on the way. In the meantime the accomplices of the accused attacked and the accused Ghazanfar was killed due to firing by his accomplices.
The counsel for petitioner said the accused was on physical remand and he was killed. It is feared that brother of the accused who is in Sheikhupura jail will also be killed because FIR of alleged police encounters are given on this pattern. Therefore, protection be provided to the accused in jail.
CJ LHC asked the counsel not to be emotional and talk as per facts of the case. The identification parade of this accused was conducted before his death. There may be FIRs of identical nature but there is nothing like this in this case. Police do a lot but such thing is not being seen in this case.
CJ LHC remarked SHO had said a day before that the associates of the accused opened firing on police vehicle and the accused was killed due to firing by his associates. But bullets did not hit the vehicle. Therefore, IG was summoned.
CJ IHC said to IG Police he will say what in this regard.
IG Punjab stated that it came to their notice that the suspect had attacked in a previous encounter 13 days ago and several police officers have been martyred due to firing by the accused persons.
CJ LHC expressed satisfaction over IG report.
CJ LHC directed IG Punjab to review the CCD police encounters maintaining what wave of CCD police encounters is running at present be reviewed. 50 applications are coming in a day against the alleged police encounters.
The court wrapped up the petition.
Following the hearing by the court IG Police Punjab said the orders of CJ LHC will be implemented. CCD is taking steps as per law and constitution.
The court said to IG Punjab that no steps be taken against law in regard to the accused who is in jail.
