LAHORE
Justice Amjid Rafiq of Lahore High Court (LHC) has declared null and void decision of District Intelligence Committee (DIC) for not providing security to citizen. Justice Amjid Rafiq issued a 10-page written decision on the petition filed by citizen Saif Ali maintaining that DIC report position is recommendatory . Final powers rest with police.
The decision said police itself is authorized to provide protection to citizen in the event of life threat. Providing protection of life to citizens is not conditional under the constitution. State will have to take all possible measures at every cost to save the lives of its citizens.
According to the petitioner he is star witness . He is receiving threats persistently.
Police had advised the petitioner to restrict his movement while as per IG Punjab report DIC had proposed to petitioner to appoint two private guards. The court observed as per home department policy -2018 IG Police can provide police protection to any citizen for 30 days on the basis of authentic intelligence report.
The decision further said protection can be provided to the witnesses in FIRs under Punjab Witness Protection Act-2018.
The court maintained depriving the citizen of police protection on the basis of report of DIC is inappropriate act. Seeking police protection is right of a citizen if he faces life threat.
The court while nullifying the decision of district intelligence committee for not providing security to the citizen ordered IG Punjab police to provide police protection to the citizen immediately.
