The Supreme Court has ordered police to register FIRs immediately after receiving information about a cognizable offense, warning that officials responsible for delays could face legal and departmental action.
The directives were issued in a seven-page judgment authored by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar while dismissing a jail petition filed by convict Ali Raza in a 2012 murder case in Dadu.
The court noted that police received information about the murder on the night of the incident but registered the FIR more than three days later. It expressed concern over the continued practice of delayed FIR registration in Sindh despite previous Supreme Court directions.
The court reiterated its directions in the Muhammad Bux case, under which provincial police chiefs must ensure prompt registration of FIRs once information about a cognisable offence reaches the officer in charge of a police station.
It warned that delays can lead to the loss or deterioration of evidence, particularly forensic evidence, and affect the merits of a case.
The Supreme Court said trial courts should take notice when police delay registration despite being aware of a cognizable offense. They should determine the reason for the delay and take action permitted under the law.
The court said delayed registration could also be referred to the inspector general of police for departmental action. Proceedings under Section 201 of the Pakistan Penal Code may also be initiated where legal requirements are met.
The court directed the prosecutor general of Sindh to submit district-wise details of murder cases from January 1, 2025, in which FIR registration took more than 24 hours. The report must be submitted within two months.
The Supreme Court also warned that further non-compliance with its Muhammad Bux judgment could lead to contempt proceedings against senior police officials.
The court directed that the Muhammad Bux judgment be translated into Sindhi and uploaded to its website.
It also reiterated that the term “faryaadi” should not be used in police proceedings, saying citizens approach authorities as a matter of right rather than mercy. The court similarly discouraged the phrase “Bakhidmat Janaab SHO,” observing that police officers serve citizens, not the other way around.
The Supreme Court ultimately dismissed Ali Raza’s jail petition and refused leave to appeal.
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