The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that police officers have no authority to punish, humiliate, or degrade suspects in custody. Justice Ali Zia Bajwa, while disposing of a contempt petition, emphasized that every accused person enjoys constitutional protections and must be treated with dignity, regardless of the nature of allegations against them.
Contempt Petition Over Viral Videos
The petition was filed against the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab, the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Gujranwala, and other officials after videos surfaced online allegedly showing suspects having their heads shaved while in police custody. The court directed the RPO Gujranwala to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the incident, identify all responsible officials, and take appropriate disciplinary action against those found involved.
Court’s Observations on Police Conduct
In its order, the court observed that the constitutional role of the police is to prevent crime and investigate offences in accordance with the law, not to punish, disgrace, or publicly humiliate individuals in custody. Justice Bajwa held that every detainee is entitled to the protection of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, and law enforcement authorities are duty-bound to treat all suspects with dignity and respect.
No Legal Basis for Degrading Treatment
The court further observed that there is no legal basis for degrading or publicly humiliating an accused person and warned that such conduct violates the rule of law and will not be tolerated. Reaffirming the principle of due process, the court noted that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law, irrespective of the seriousness of the allegations.
Police Denial and Inquiry Ordered
According to the court order, police claimed in their report that they were not involved in shaving the suspects' heads. However, the court ordered the RPO to carry out a thorough inquiry to fix responsibility and ensure appropriate action against any officials found culpable. The ruling reinforces the constitutional safeguards for suspects and sets a precedent against extrajudicial punishments by law enforcement agencies.
