Pakistan: IG Punjab doesn’t deserve top office

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday directed the federal and provincial governments to take appropriate action within three days against Inspector General Police Punjab, DIG and other police officers who are involved in the investigation into the murder of a Khanewal-based woman. Expressing dissatisfaction with the Punjab Police report on a mother of five children stoned to death in Khanewal on the decision of a jirga, the CJP observed that IGP and other investigation officers did not deserve occupying such important positions meant to protect the fundamental rights and security of the citizens. Federal and provincial governments should look into the matter and examine that whether such police officers should continue working on the these posts, the court ordered. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed hearing of a suo motu case on the stoning of a woman to death in Khanewal. It is duty of the executive to move forward against the persons who are failing to protect fundamental rights and protection of the people, the CJP observed. Earlier, the IGP Haji Habibur Rehman presented the probe report before the bench that was rejected by the CJP commenting that the police didn’t take prompt action against the killers and ensure justice to the aggrieved family. However, Advocate General Punjab, Ashtar Osaf requested the court to give anther chance for fresh probe into the case but the bench turned down it and passed the order against police officials for their negligence. The court also directed the IGP and DPO to provide security cover to the victim family before disposing of the case for further action.