A court in Rawalpindi has ordered departmental and legal action against the Station House Officer (SHO) of New Town Police Station for failing to register a First Information Report (FIR) despite clear judicial instructions. The SHO faces criticism for undermining the rule of law and tarnishing the reputation of the police force, prompting strong public reaction and judicial intervention.
Additional Sessions Judge Afshan Ejaz Sufi initiated action against the SHO under Section 155-C of the Police Order. The court had previously issued a clear directive mandating the immediate registration of an FIR after verifying relevant documents. Despite these explicit instructions, the SHO deliberately delayed compliance.
In a subsequent court order, Judge Sufi pointed out that the SHO’s refusal constitutes a flagrant violation of Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This law binds police officers to record complainants’ statements and promptly register FIRs for cognizable offences. The court has demanded a compliance report be submitted by July 11, 2025, while simultaneously warning the City Police Officer (CPO) of Rawalpindi that any further negligence by his office will lead to stringent legal consequences.
Responding to the judicial directive, the office of the CPO Rawalpindi confirmed the initiation of departmental proceedings against the concerned SHO. An internal memo underscored the seriousness of this administrative lapse and instructed immediate submission of a compliance report to the police headquarters without further delay.
This incident has sparked anger and frustration among citizens and rights activists, who see this as indicative of a broader culture of impunity among police officials, particularly regarding the fundamental right to file FIRs. Critics argue that open defiance of judicial orders by station-level officers not only obstructs citizens’ access to justice but also embarrasses senior police leadership and damages public trust in law enforcement agencies.
The case has once again highlighted the persistent problem of police officials ignoring legal obligations, negatively impacting the credibility of law enforcement institutions. Observers are now closely monitoring Rawalpindi’s police leadership to determine what concrete measures they will take in response to this defiance and how effectively they will restore public confidence in the criminal justice system.
