LAHORE - After the Lahore High Court and Supreme Court admonished several top cops including the Punjab Police Inspector General over their lack of understanding of legal issues, the Punjab Police have requested the provincial government to provide three legal advisors to the department for dealing with legal matters and media briefings.
A police spokesperson said the department needed three veteran legal advisors to assist police in high-profile cases like terrorism, sectarian violence, etc. The spokesperson, however, said although the department can meet their needs, yet the request has been made for allocation of funds. By doing so, the department will be in autonomous position and free in dealing with legal matters and the connection of AG Office with the police department would be abolished at once, the spokesperson added.
The summary moved to the Home Department says the legal experts provided by the AG Office are not capable to deal with the matters in accordance with the spirit and willingness of the police department and its officers. Resultantly, the police department and its top cops become demoralise to different respondents. “We need veteran and seasoned advocates to handle police cases especially high-profile ones like terrorism and the terrorists arrested in multiple suicide bombings in the past,” the epitome of the summary says. According to an official statement, IGP Haji Habib-ur-Rehman on May 17, 2012, requested the courts not to make fun of the Police Force because this act not only demoralises the officers, but also weakens the writ of the government. He further said, “It is also feared that this day-to-day mockery of the Police Force will ultimately affect efforts being made by the government institutions and the honourable courts to reform the policing.” He said that all the institutions were respectable to ensure criminal justice otherwise the criminals and rogue elements could become a serious threat to the state.
A source said that the IGP had to face severe criticism by the courts with regard to promotion cases of Police Inspectors and DSPs due to lack of understanding on legal issues.
He, however, said the department cannot even tackle minor legal issues with current strength and the expertise of the available lawyers of AG Office.
Talking to this scribe, AIG Welfare and Finance Saad Akhtar expressed his complete ignorance about any such development and said the IGP might had moved the summary to the Home Department, which would be received by the Welfare Branch in due course of time. He, however, said if the funds are not allocated by the Punjab government, then the department might bear the entire expenditures of the legal experts.