The law of the land requires the police to register an FIR of the complaint brought by a citizen. Your correspondent correctly but quite belatedly observed that the police do not observe the law the way it should.
He referred to a motorcycle theft case some nine months ago and stated that the police took three days just to register the incident in their ‘daily diary’ but to date they have not registered an FIR.
There are many reasons for not registering or delaying an FIR by police station officials. On the top is corruption. In simple words, it is bribery or ‘palm greasing’ by the complainant that takes place. The amount of money varies and depends on the nature of the incident or crime and also the financial status of the parties involved. Pressure on the influential and political figures in favour of the perpetrators of the crime, at times, also plays its role.
It was also rightly pointed out by your correspondent that a bigger tragedy is the attitude of senior police officers. FIR means nothing other than the first information report. It is not a certificate from the complainant regarding the actual occurrence of the crime or incident. It should, therefore, be taken as such.
The solution: in case an FIR is not registered at the police station as soon as it is lodged, the Station House Officer should be sacked and the higher police officers also made accountable for their negligence and, or complicity.
ALI ZAIN
Karachi