SC Warns Sindh Police Over Delays in FIR Filings

News Desk
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday expressed strong displeasure over the persistent delays in the registration of first information reports (FIRs) across Sindh, cautioning law enforcement officials that they could face strict contempt proceedings for any future violations. A two-judge apex court bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar and Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, issued the warning while hearing a jail petition filed by Ali Raza Siyal, who had challenged the Sindh High Court’s Larkana Circuit Bench judgment that previously upheld his life sentence in a 2012 murder case from Dadu district.

In its comprehensive seven-page judgment, authored by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, the bench observed with deep dismay that the unlawful practice of delaying FIR registrations in Sindh remains unchecked. The court noted that despite clear earlier directives and the personal appearance of the Sindh inspector general before the bench, law enforcement agencies have shown zero compliance. In the immediate case under review, the formal FIR was lodged after an inexcusable delay of over three days, despite initial information being furnished to authorities on the very night of the incident.

This systemic failure in timely criminal justice administration has profound implications for citizens, severely compromising the foundational right to swift justice, evidentiary integrity, and the rule of law. Persistent delays in logging primary complaints often lead to the spoliation of crucial crime scene evidence and foster a deep sense of vulnerability among victims. Civil society and legal experts have repeatedly underscored that administrative apathy within provincial police apparatuses directly undermines public trust in state machinery and judicial efficacy.

Looking ahead, the apex court’s stern warning signals a zero-tolerance approach toward administrative non-compliance by provincial police hierarchies. Legal analysts anticipate that the ruling will compel the Sindh Police leadership to enforce stringent internal accountability mechanisms, digital tracking of complaints, and immediate punitive actions against station house officers who fail to register FIRs without statutory delay.