The Sindh High Court (SHC) was informed on Friday that law enforcers were conducting operation in the city against criminals in accordance with relevant laws. Whenever law enforcement officers are found deviating from the procedures laid down in the laws, strict disciplinary action is taken against them.
This was stated in a report submitted by the Sindh police in response to court’s queries regarding mechanism under which search operation was being carried out in Karachi.
A division bench of the SHC headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Shaikh was hearing a petition filed by Fakhruddin who sought recovery of his son, Arshad, missing since March 2013.
The DIG South submitted a report stating that the operation was being conducted against criminals by police and Rangers personnel in accordance with relevant provision of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.
The report said that police conduct raids on the basis of information regarding presence of suspects involved in any heinous crimes. Raids are also conducted for recovery of illicit weapons after tip-off. Police personnel produce suspects before court of law within 24 hours.
It said that suspects arrested during search operation conducted by police and Rangers jointly were handed over to police for investigation except those detained for 90 days under the ATA 1997. The police officers conduct investigation in accordance with relevant provisions of Criminal Procedure Code 1898.
“The reports pertaining to missing persons are taken very seriously. FIRs are registered and the cases are investigated diligently and senior officers supervise investigations into such cases and regular progress reports are submitted in the concerned courts,” explained the report.
Rangers submitted two notifications issued by interior and provincial home departments for deployment of paramilitary forces in the Karachi division for its functions specified under the Anti-terrorism Act 1997.
After taking on record the comments and two notifications submitted by two forces, the court adjourned the hearing of case to a date later be fixed by court office.