Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif’s orders for cracking down against the brothels operating as guest houses in the province is clear violation of Lahore High Court’s orders, which states that police had no right to interfere in the personal lives of citizens.
The law experts said there was no clear definition of a brothel house and guest house thus the police would have no ground to raid such areas.
The CM chaired a high level meeting on Wednesday and directed Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah to evolve a strategy with the consultation of the institutions concerned so that this nefarious business could be rooted out.
Reportedly, LHC Judge Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik in ruling on February 1 has said after the amendment in the Hudood Ordinance, the police have no jurisdiction to carry out raids to guest houses or hotels. Justice Malik in his orders said police raid guest houses only to extort bribes and to harass people. They must get permission from a session’s court before raiding a guest house, the judge added.
The decision was made in case filed by All Pakistan Muslim League leader Ghulam Mohiyuddin.
However, the CM in Wednesday’s meeting made it clear to the top hierarchy of the province that no one will be allowed to promote immorality in the garb of guest houses. He said that district police officers and SHOs of big cities be assigned the task of monitoring such guest houses as are involved in immoral activities.
He directed IG Police to personally supervise this operation against such guest houses. The CM also issued instructions for immediate arrest of the absconding police constable involved in Evergreen Hotel incident. He further directed that a complete record of the persons staying at hotels be maintained.
The sources said the Punjab police in order to hide the crimes of its officials who were allegedly involved in Evergreen Hotel incident were distracting the inquiry. They said the police were trying its best to save its officials, who were involved in the kidnapping of two students by saying that a crackdown on guest houses is necessary.
The law experts said the police have no right to raid any hotel or guest house. “The police cannot enter in the jurisdiction of any house/hotel unless it gets permission from the session court,” said a senior lawyer Mukaram Khanzada adding it was a typical police style of raiding a guest house if they had a tip of an absconder/proclaimed offender in the guest house. He said now the police must need a strong reason to raid any such area adding there is a need of strong legislation for this purpose otherwise once again the owners of guest houses would move court.
He said the CM should not give such statements, which were against the court rulings. The senior lawyer said it was very difficult to define a brothel house and a guest house therefore police raids on such areas would be clear violation of LHC orders.
Before you raid a brothel, define one
