The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has taken strong action against police overreach, imposing heavy fines and ordering strict disciplinary measures against personnel who conducted an unauthorized raid in Lahore. The court ruled that the police action, which involved the detention of a woman and her three young daughters without proper legal authority, was unlawful.
Court Quashes FIR and Condemns Police Action
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, presiding over a single-member bench, announced the verdict on Monday. The court allowed a writ petition seeking justice against police misconduct. In its ruling, the bench quashed FIR No. 658/25, which was registered on September 20, 2025, at the Tarnol Police Station in Islamabad.
The case was filed under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Arms Ordinance. The petitioners successfully argued that the FIR was illegal and a result of police misconduct. Justice Kayani stated that a detailed written judgment would be issued later.
The Details of the Unlawful Raid and Harassment
According to the petition, officials from the Islamabad police carried out a high-handed operation in Lahore. They forcibly detained a woman and her three minor daughters in connection with a financial dispute. This dispute reportedly involved former Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) chief executive Musharraf Rasool, along with Waqas Ahmad and Sohail Aleem.
The counsel for the petitioners presented a grave picture of systematic harassment. He argued that the police had staged a fake encounter and unlawfully arrested the petitioner's wife. Furthermore, the petitioners were falsely implicated in other criminal cases, including FIR No. 28/25 at Phulgran Police Station. Despite being on bail in those cases, they faced continuous harassment stemming from what was described as a civil and commercial dispute.
Financial Penalties and Departmental Action Ordered
In a significant move to hold the responsible officers accountable, Justice Kayani imposed substantial fines. The court ordered a fine of Rs100,000 on each police officer who was part of the raiding team that conducted the Lahore operation without lawful authorization.
Additionally, a separate fine of Rs100,000 was imposed on the investigating officer of the Tarnol case for his role in the unlawful proceedings. The court also noted that the Tarnol case appeared to originate from a property-related dispute involving Waqas Ahmad, Sohail Aleem, and the former PIA CEO.
Beyond the financial penalties, the court directed the Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad Police to take immediate departmental action against all officials involved in both the illegal Lahore raid and the handling of the Tarnol case. The IG has been instructed to submit a compliance report to the court after completing the disciplinary proceedings.
This ruling underscores the judiciary's role in checking the abuse of power and protecting citizens from unlawful police actions, especially when such actions cross provincial boundaries and involve vulnerable family members.
