ISLAMABAD: Underscoring the importance of flawless police investigation in collecting evidence to prove or disprove a criminal act, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed police chiefs of all four provinces, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Gilgit-Baltistan to prepare modern approach-based investigation handbook for investigation officers within six months.
A two-member bench of Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed issued directives through a written order in a bail matter. New investigation tools shall be added in every new edition whereas the handbook on the investigation would be ensured to issue to investigation officers every year on July 1, it added.
The bench further directed the concerned authorities that the Police Training Centre should take services of qualified professionals for imparting professional training to the investigation officers. The bench further said that investigation of a crime is a specialized subject in which the investigation officers are required to be fully trained and equipped.
“Such handbook of investigation should be immediately prepared but not later than 6 months from today, and it should be made available to each of the investigation officers, who are responsible for investigating the crime. The handbook on investigation shall be updated every year and new experiences shall be added along with the latest case-law given by the superior Courts” said the bench in a written order on Wednesday.
The bench passed this order in the purview of a bail application of a suspect Saddam Hussain who was allegedly involved in illegal occupation of a plot in which one person was killed and four others were injured.
During the proceedings on Tuesday, the bench has reprimanded Islamabad Police Inspector General (IGP) Aamer Zulfiqar and directed him to improve the police department’s performance.
In its writer order, the top court issued directives to IG Islamabad to take all measures to improve the quality of working of Islamabad Police, overall in general, and in the matter of investigation in particular.
“The IG Islamabad shall also ensure that proper law and order situation prevails in Islamabad Capital Territory, and the life and properties of the people are safeguarded and protected, and the criminals are taken to task in accordance with the law. No amount of negligence in this regard should be tolerated and if anybody in the police department is found neglecting his duties, he should immediately be dealt with and if found guilty, appropriate penalty be imposed upon him. If any police official is found indulging in criminal activities, the criminal case shall also be registered against him, besides, taking departmental action against such police official”, stated in the court order.
