LAHORE: Controversies proceed to hang-out the joint investigation group (JIT) probing the Nov 3 gun assault on former prime minister Imran Khan in Wazirabad, because the Punjab authorities as soon as once more revised its composition, eradicating 4 of its members on Sunday.
Dera Ghazi Khan Regional Police Officer (RPO) Syed Khurram Ali Shah, Punjab Counter-Terrorism Division (CTD) Superintendent of Police (SP) Naseebullah Khan, Assistant Inspector Basic (Monitoring) Ehsanullah Chohan and Potohar SP Malik Tariq Mehboob had been faraway from the group after a fact-finding report really useful strict motion beneath terrorism and different expenses in opposition to them. It additionally really useful departmental motion in opposition to them beneath Authorities Servant (Effectivity & Self-discipline Guidelines) 1973.
The report was finalised by Punjab Prosecutor Basic Chaudhry Khaliquz Zaman, who was deputed because the inquiry officer quickly after an official letter written by the officers carrying divergent views from the group head surfaced within the media relating to the variety of shooters concerned within the Wazirabad assault.
The federal government changed the 4 officers with Dera Ghazi Khan District Police Officer Muhammad Akmal, Punjab Freeway Patrol SP Anjum Kamal, Jhang Crime Investigation Company Deputy Superintendent of Police Nasir Nawaz and every other official co-opted by the JIT head. A notification on this regard was issued.
That is the fourth time that the composition of the JIT has been modified since its formation on Nov 9.
JIT convener, Lahore Capital Metropolis Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mahmood Dogar, had levelled allegations of non-professionalism, misuse of workplace, tampering with proof and leaking of confidential details about the investigation to the media in opposition to the 4 officers. He had advised initiation of an inquiry in opposition to them.
The CCPO’s allegations adopted a letter the 4 members had written to him, expressing reservations over the way in which he had been attempting to affect the investigation course of, and likewise disputed claims that there have been a number of shooters concerned within the assault.
Sending the inquiry report back to the house division, Mr Zaman proposed motion in opposition to the officers beneath Part 21-A (sub-section 6)(a) of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, Rule 14.8 of Police Guidelines, 1934, the related provisions of the Police Order, 2002 and others.
In his findings, he has additionally really useful punishment of two to a few years with fines beneath related provisions of the legislation in opposition to the officers discovered responsible of misconduct for releasing categorised info to the media, deliberate efforts to distort details, damaging the investigation and disobeying the orders of their senior (JIT head). He has additional requested the authorities to confiscate the cell phones of those officers and ship them for forensic evaluation.
Alternatively, the inquiry officer has additionally endorsed the findings of CCPO Dogar that a number of shooters had been concerned within the assault on Mr Khan in Wazirabad.
“The report of PFSA Lahore dated 16.12.2022 concludes that 12x crime empties had been fired from 30-bore caliber and 2x crime empties/cartridges fired from 7.62 x 39mm caliber. Equally, one other report of PFSA Lahore dated 03.01.2023 clearly concludes on check foundation that the 9x crime empties haven’t been fired within the merchandise P1 pistol, which is pistol of accused Muhammad Naveed used within the crime,” learn the inquiry report.
It additional said that using three completely different weapons has been established from the Punjab Forensic Science Company reviews, which clearly revealed there have been three shooters on the website, so the opinion shaped by the 4 former members of the JIT of their written assertion that there was “no credible/impartial proof has come on the report which reveals that there have been multiple firers/assailants” was in opposition to the details and obtainable proof.
“This fashion, they’ve tried to break the veracity of the proof, which quantities to misconduct in addition to against the law,” the inquiry report mentioned, including: “The 4 members of JIT have demonstrated felony misconduct in not exhibiting due service curiosity in discharging their authorized duties by violating the disciplinary guidelines, destroying proof and incorrect reporting, primarily based on mala fide intents and ulterior motives.”
It additional alleges that the officers acted illegally by leaking confidential and delicate info to the media and made “deliberate efforts” to derail the investigation.
“I’m of the view that ample proof has been discovered within the report that they’ve exceeded their powers and acted in the way in which not offered within the legislation and guidelines,” Mr Zaman wrote within the report.
The report recommends “punishment with imprisonment of both description for a time period which can prolong to 2 years, or with tremendous, or with each” for framing incorrect report or writing with intent to save lots of an individual from punishment or property from forfeiture, the inquiry officer really useful.