Saddam Hussain vs The State through A.G. Islamabad and others
This matter originated from a criminal petition involving concerns regarding police investigation standards and the conduct of an Investigating Officer. The Supreme Court addressed the necessity for professionalizing police investigations, emphasizing that investigation is a specialized field requiring rigorous training. The Court directed the Inspector General of Police, Islamabad, to ensure that Investigating Officers are fully trained and equipped. A key directive issued by the Court mandates the immediate preparation of a comprehensive handbook on crime investigation, incorporating practical applications, case law, and the use of modern investigation kits and computerized data. This handbook must be updated annually. Furthermore, the Court underscored the constitutional duty of the State and its functionaries, particularly the police, to safeguard the life and property of citizens. The Court directed that any police official found negligent or involved in criminal activities must face strict departmental action and criminal prosecution. The petition itself was ultimately withdrawn by the petitioner to pursue a fresh bail application upon the submission of the final challan.
- Is the investigation of a crime considered a specialized subject requiring specific training for police officers?
- Does the State have a constitutional obligation to protect the life and property of its citizens through police functionaries?
- What are the requirements for police departments regarding the creation and updating of investigation handbooks?
ORDER
1. GULZAR AHMED, C J.--The Inspector General of Police, Islamabad has appeared before the Court. He has stated that there are other complaints against the Investigating Officer, Tasadduq Hussain and the same are being dealt with by his office. He has assured the Court that he will examine the case in hand also, and in case I.O., Tasadduq Hussain is found to have committed negligence or has misconducted himself, he will be proceeded against departmentally and the matter will be taken to the logical conclusion. It was emphasized by the Court to the I.G.
2. Police that investigation of a crime is a specialized subject in which the investigation officers are required to be fully trained and equipped, and in this regard the Police Training Centre should take services of qualified professionals for imparting professional training to the investigation officers. A handbook of the crime investigation, based upon previous experiences, illustrations, practical applications and case-law develop ed by the superior Courts of Pakistan should be prepared immediately with knowledge of using of investigation kits and preparing a computerized data of the crime: 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 latest case-law given by the superior Courts. New investigation tools shall be added in every new edition, to be issued every year on 1st of July. A copy of such investigation handbook shall be provided by the I.G.
3. Police, Islamabad to the Registrar of this Court for our examination in chambers.
4. At the same time we are sanguine that the I.G. Police, Islamabad shall take all measures to improve the quality of working of Islamabad Police, overall in general and in the matter of investigation in particular , and he 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 law. No amount of negligence in this regard should be tolerated and if any body in 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 of ficial.
5. We may emphasize that it is the constitutional right of the people that their life and properties are saved and protected by the State and such State functionaries include the police of ficials.
6. Copy of this order be sent to I.G. Police of all the four Provinces and Gilgit Baltistan for implementation of above directions.
7. After arguing the matter at some length, Mr. Muhammad Ilyas Siddiqui, learned counsel for the petitioner seeks to withdraw this criminal petition in order to file a fresh bail application after final Challan is submitted by the police in the trial Court. Dismissed as such.
Cited by 2 cases
- MUHAMMAD JAVED Versus State 2021 YLR 2075
- Amir Sajjad and others vs The State and others 2023 PCRLJ 1650