LHC chief justice tells Lahore police chief to strengthen command

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on Monday expressed concern over what she described as weak command by Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana and voiced displeasure over police inaction in criminal investigations during proceedings on a petition filed by a woman.

Hearing the matter, the chief justice observed that police officers had stopped working after the court ceased summoning the city police chief. "Should we now summon you in every matter?" she asked, addressing the CCPO in court.

Chief Justice Neelum directed the Lahore police chief to improve supervision within his command, warning that weak oversight would contribute to a rise in crime. "If the crime rate rises, the burden of cases on courts will also increase," she further observed.

She also questioned whether any law allowed an investigating officer to stop performing duties merely because a case had become old.

During the hearing, CCPO Kamyana informed the court that, in the matter under consideration, a first information report had been registered immediately after the court’s order. He said the dispute was later resolved through a compromise between the parties, after which the case was closed.

Following the police chief’s statement, the chief justice disposed of the petition, which had sought registration of a case against a woman citizen.

The petition had been filed by Bilqees Bibi, who asked the court to order registration of a fraud case against another woman identified as Farzana.

Security plan for cattle markets

Separately, according to a Lahore Police spokesperson, the CCPO said comprehensive security arrangements would be put in place for cattle markets, traders and buyers until Eidul Azha.

The spokesperson said six approved cattle markets had been set up at Saggian Road near the Sui Gas Office Shahdara, Sports Complex Adda Rakh Chabeel, Bedian Road near Paragon City, LDA City Kahna Kacha, Shahpur Kanjran and Raiwind near Haveli Markaz.

CCPO Kamyana said no cattle market would be permitted outside these approved locations. He added that illegal cattle markets and sale points in residential neighbourhoods and on major roads had been strictly banned, and that legal action would be taken against violators.

The Lahore police chief also ordered strict action against swindlers accused of cheating citizens and traders through counterfeit currency. He directed officials to take effective steps to protect the public from pickpockets and other criminal elements, and instructed them to further increase patrolling, picketing and police deployment in and around cattle markets.

He also directed the chief traffic officer (CTO) Lahore to ensure effective traffic management around the markets and urged citizens to report any emergency or suspicious activity to Police Helpline 15.