LHC chides CCPO, gives 15 days to recover abducted girl

LAHORE:The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday chided the Lahore capital city police officer for failing to recover a girl purportedly abducted six months ago.

The court gave a 15-day deadline to Punjab police for the recovery the girl, observing that police are being given salaries from tax payers’ money and they are unable to provide protection to the public at large.

The petitioner, Hameeda, told LHC that the Police Department was not taking steps despite her daughter had been missing since July from Kahna.

In pursuance of the court’s order, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Zulfiqar Hameed appeared before the court and told the court that efforts were underway to recover the girl.

Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan showed extreme anger and said to the CCPO, “You have done nothing in six months. The court is giving 15 days to recover the girl. In case of failure to recover the abducted girl, the court will summon the inspector general and we will also initiate proceedings of the contempt of court against you.”

The CCPO requested the court to grant one month time for the recovery of the abductee, saying he had assumed office a couple of days before. However, the judge remarked angrily, “Why don’t you seek two year time one for all, ruling that the Police Department had already sought “enough time” during the course of court hearings. Later, the court deferred the hearing till December 18.