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ISLAMABAD, Nov 28 (APP):The Supreme Court of Pakistan has dismissed petitions filed by three police officials from Dera Ghazi Khan against their dismissal from service, ruling that illegal detention, torture and endangering the lives of citizens constitute “grave misconduct” in the police force and cannot be condoned.
According to the court’s officially approved detailed judgment on Friday, a three-member bench comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan heard the petitions filed by Head Constable Khalid Mehmood and Constables Riaz Hussain and Safdar Ali against the decision of the Punjab Service Tribunal.
The petitioners were accused of illegally detaining a citizen, Zaryab Khan, from June 18 to 23, 2020, without any FIR or arrest warrant, and subjecting him to torture, which later led to his death. Although the officials were acquitted in the criminal case by giving them the benefit of the doubt, a departmental inquiry found them guilty of corruption and abuse of authority.
After completing the inquiry and hearing the officials, the Regional Police Officer (RPO) of DG Khan deemed the initial recommendation of reducing their salaries insufficient and enhanced the penalty to dismissal from service. The decision was upheld first in departmental appeals and later by the Punjab Service Tribunal.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court stated that the Constitution guarantees the dignity, liberty, and fundamental rights of citizens, and acts of illegal detention and torture by police personnel violate these constitutional protections while also undermining public trust. The court further held that acquittal in a criminal case does not nullify departmental proceedings.
The bench noted that the petitioners failed to raise any legal question warranting review or interference; therefore their leave-to-appeal petitions were dismissed.