SAHIWAL: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) to initiate legal proceedings against 12 named police officials and 37 unidentified constables accused of harassing villagers and seizing their valuables after registering a fabricated kidnapping case.
Justice Malik Javed Iqbal issued the directions while disposing of a writ and contempt petition, instructing the ACE Sahiwal regional director to implement the earlier orders of a lower court against police personnel from Harappa, Dera Rahim, and Bahadur Shah police stations.
According to the petitioners, Sahiwal police officials illegally detained residents of village 101/6-R, Tehsil Sahiwal, conducted raids on their homes, and confiscated cattle, gold ornaments, clothes, and other valuables. The total value of the seized items was estimated at Rs150 million. The actions were carried out under the pretext of investigating a case registered under Section 365-B of the Pakistan Penal Code at Harappa police station.
During court proceedings, it emerged that the police had registered a false kidnapping case involving Azra Bibi against 12 villagers belonging to eight families. The complainants alleged that they were kept in lock-ups and subjected to harassment, while their belongings were taken to the police station in the name of investigation.
Earlier, the affected families had approached the additional district and sessions judge (AD&SJ) in Sahiwal, who declared the FIR fake on October 28, 2025, and directed the ACE to register a case against three station house officers (SHOs) and 12 nominated police officials. However, the ACE failed to act on the order, prompting the villagers to file a contempt of court petition before the LHC.
During the hearing, ACE officials assured the court that action would be taken in line with the AD&SJ’s decision. Accepting the assurance, the LHC directed the ACE regional director to implement the lower court’s ruling in favour of the 21 affected residents and disposed of the petition.
The writ petition was filed on December 5, 2025, under Article 199 of the Constitution by Amjad Ali and other residents of village 101/6-R, Abadi Thabal, through their counsel Muhammad Shabbir Sanpal.
The petition named several police officials, including former SHOs, assistant sub-inspectors, constables, and drivers from the three police stations, along with dozens of unidentified personnel. The petitioners, including Jalalauddin, Zaheeruddin, Haroon, Qasir, Manzoor, Murtaza, Abbas, and Amjad Ali, accused the police of unlawful detention, harassment, and illegal seizure of property.
Sources said the ACE has received the LHC’s order and is expected to register cases against all three SHOs and other nominated officials on Wednesday.