LAHORE, Dec 16: A specialised unit of 25 investigation officers will shortly be part of Lahore police’s investigation wing after training to fight increasing cases of cheque dishonour (489-F of the Pakistan Penal Code).
The decision has been taken by city police authorities after realisation that incumbent investigation officers have apparently failed to dispose of such cases in time and as per expectations of complainants. Official figures show that around 7,000 proclaimed offenders linked to 489-F cases (both old and new) have yet to be tracked down by the police because of a lack of specialisation in investigating the cases involving documentary evidence.
SSP (Investigation) Abdul Razzaque Cheema told Dawn there was a dire need for a specialised unit because of ever-increasing cases of financial crimes and incumbent investigation officers’ inability to dispose of such cases in time. He said it had been observed that investigators of all police stations and the CIA were unable to collect documentary evidence in 489-F cases because of a lack of specialisation and workload of criminal cases.
“Every investigation officer investigates 489-F cases in his own way, therefore, there is a need for an independent and specialised unit to address people’s complaints,” he said. If the unit performed as per expectations, other categories of financial crimes — Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), Section 468 (forgery for cheating) and Section 471 (using a forged document as genuine) of the PPC — would be handed over to the unit for investigation and speedy disposal of cases.
The SSP said investigation officers would be imparted training by officials of the Punjab prosecution department as well as police about applicability of required laws and professional approach. He said an SP rank officer would head the unit and officials for this unit would be taken from other wings of Lahore police.
Cheema said initially every investigation officer would investigate one case and dispose it of in three days. He said every investigation officer would be given cases according to his efficiency.
(Daily Dawn)
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