Standing order issued regarding identification of arrested persons

Punjab Police Inspector General Shoaib Dastgir has issued detailed directions regarding instructions for identification and verification of arrested persons. In the light of these directions, DIG crimes Dr Masood Saleem has sent the devised SOP to CCPO Lahore, all regional, district heads along with districts in charge of investigation. The said standing order contains detailed instructions regarding verification and identification of arrested person or persons. It has been mentioned in the order that police do not give value to identification of arrested individuals in actionable offence and such accused get freed after acquisition of bail during hearing and then declared court absconders upon their absence in the court thus causing not only difficulty in their arrest but also noncompliance of producing of accused in the court upon summons. Mostly, the name of the accused is given incomplete or wrong by the plaintiff and investigation officer also does not pay attention to true identity and residence in accordance with the documents of CNIC which later on gives birth to different legal complications. Groups of accused involved in inter districts crimes tell wrong name address and provide fake CNIC to police officers so that they may save themselves from arrest in other districts especially in those districts in which they have already been declared proclaimed offenders. With this respect, following the orders of honourable court, instructions have been issued under police order article (3)10. Whenever any person is arrested, his name, father name, complete address will be asked to him. The verification of CNIC or its available copy shall be verified through NADRA VERISYS System because possession of fake CNIC by an accused cannot be ignored. Moreover, the verification of the documents of the accused should be scrutinized from two local prominent persons of that area. In case of absence of CNIC, the pedigree of the arrested person should be acquired from NADRA and attached it with the Missil and the documents of the accused should be verified from the town respectable persons of the accused residential area. Furthermore, if the accused did not apply for CNIC then investigation officer with the help of SHO or in charge investigation should immediately contact to NADRA authorities and if possible then Mobile unit of NADRA should be managed so that the accused CNIC could be formally made. While sending of the arrested accused to jail, CNIC or its Copy or NADRA Verification Certificate copy should also dispatched to the jail authorities along with other documents. If during arrest of accused, no CNIC is found or it could not be made despite efforts, then during sending accused on judicial in jail, police will apprise the jail authorities regarding status of accused CNIC so that the jail authorities may fulfil the rest of the proceedings. The investigation officer during arrest of any accused of his local police station will be bound to verify the challan of accused from the muharar whereas the verification of accused of another police station shall be verified by SHO of the said Thana and will acquire Parchi information before attaching it with challan. The detainers, muharrar and SHO of police station will write identification report on the back of accused identification certificate that the given name, address and residence of the accused are correct and will also write down CNIC of the accused. The detainers, muharrar or SHO will also write a verified report on accused identification certificate that the name, address, shape, face and residence have also been verified by lumberdar or notables of that area. Report under section 173 ZF will be attached with CNIC provided by accused and after verification of SHO or any other officer shall be reported. At the time of arrest of accused, the fingerprints shall be taken of Ten Print Card and sent it to head proficient Fingerprint Bureau Punjab Office. CRO offices of all districts having record of criminals saved in their criminal record management system software can also be helpful in identification of the accused. During undertaking of CRO of arrested person, the investigation officer will also enter CNIC number of accused into CRMS besides other documents whereas in its absence, its entry into CRMS shall be ensured by the help of NADRA. The verification of CNIC of the accused from NADRA or absence of CNIC of accused, the report of correspondence with NADRA shall also be made part of complete police report. For complying with the orders of honourable court the coordination and cooperation with jail department and NADRA authority will be ensured. It has been emphasized upon in the standing order that all instruction given below have been sent to all investigation officers, SHO and circles officers by senior officers so that these instructions might be implemented and these instructions should also fastened on notice boards of office of circle officer, police stations and police pickets. The muharrar shall read these instructions to all investigation officers in evening count whereas regional, district and subordinate officers and officials shall ensure exact implementation of these orders and strict disciplinary action shall be taken in case of any violation and negligence.