The Supreme Court of Pakistan took a stern view of the Punjab Police’s handling of criminal cases on Monday, emphasizing the need for accurate reporting in First Information Reports (FIRs) and highlighting how flawed cases allow the real culprits to evade justice.
A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Jamal Mandokhail and Justice Musarrat Hilali, was hearing the bail plea of Abdul Sattar, accused in a case of injuring a rival party member.
The plaintiff’s counsel stated that Sattar had fired at a person named Irshad while three other individuals were also shooting, and that Sattar’s bullet hit the victim.
Justice Jamal Mandokhail questioned how it could be determined whose bullet struck whom amid a crowd, remarking that the police themselves compromise such cases.
Justice Musarrat Hilali added that in cases of visible shooting, it is often impossible to identify the shooter and questioned whether the plaintiff had actually counted the bullets.
The bench strongly criticized the Punjab Police for their FIR-writing practices, noting that in many cases, only bullets are recorded without properly identifying the offenders.
The court observed that such incomplete reports lead to genuine perpetrators escaping punishment, as courts rely on accurate records, and doubts benefit the accused.
“Then the blame falls on the courts for releasing criminals,” the court remarked.
“Punjab Police must record the truth in cases. A single crime occurs, yet entire families are often named inaccurately,” it added.
Justice Musarrat Hilali also highlighted that most FIRs in Punjab follow a repetitive pattern, compromising the integrity of investigations.
After hearing arguments, the court granted bail to Abdul Sattar.