Sindh amends police rules: No arrest on basis of FIR alone allowed

KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet on the recommendation of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has approved an amendment in Rule 26 of Police Rules 1934 with a view to stop police officers from making any arrests merely on account of the registration of a First Information Report (FIR).

The amendment was approved in a meeting of the cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah at the Chief Minister House on Saturday.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, the chief secretary, the chairperson for the Planning and Development department and other concerned officers.

The amendment means police officers will have to collect credible evidence of involvement of the suspects in the crime and seek approval from the senior police officer before making any arrests.

Police officers told Geo News that pressure is exerted to arrest the nominees in an FIR and false cases are registered for the purpose.

"This amendment will guard against the arrest of innocent people and will also reduce the burden on the courts," the police officials said.

They said that a court ruling also exists which states that an arrest need not be made in every case when an initial probe is underway.

With the amendment, even the police will not be able to abuse their powers, senior police officials said.

The senior officers said that currently, police "sections" are being formed, after which the rule will come into effect.

"A proposal has also been made to make some cases bailable," they said.

Other important decisions were also made in the cabinet meeting which include the handing over of four Karachi Municipal Corporation hospitals to the Health Department, the procurement of retro-reflective number plates for vehicles, a reduction in cotton fee collected by the Excise and Taxation Department, and a bill for the protection of medical workers.