The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the registration of a criminal case against officials of the Crime Control Department (CCD) who took a citizen into custody immediately after his release from jail. The court declared that the CCD's version was contradicted by video evidence, and submitting a false report along with keeping a citizen in illegal detention constituted cognisable offences.
Court's Written Order
Justice Amjad Rafiq issued the written order while hearing a petition filed by Maqsooda Bibi. The court directed the Okara district police officer (DPO) to register a criminal case against the concerned CCD officers and submit a compliance report. According to the order, the petitioner stated that Gulfam Ali had been released from jail on June 27 but was immediately taken into custody outside the prison by individuals in plain clothes.
Video Evidence Contradicts CCD Report
The court noted that closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident and other evidence were available on record. On the court's directions, Lahore Defence CCD Inspector Akhtar Ali submitted a report claiming that the man had been arrested in connection with a criminal case registered in Okara. Justice Rafiq observed that the CCD's report was inconsistent with the video evidence before the court.
Cognisable Offences Identified
The judge held that submitting an incorrect report to the court and keeping a citizen in unlawful custody were cognisable offences warranting criminal proceedings. The court ordered the Okara DPO to register a First Information Report (FIR) against the relevant CCD officers and submit a report on the action taken.
