No arrest without strong evidence.

Mere nomination of the person in F.I.R. does not require the arrest of the accuse

However, it may be clarified that merely registration of a case does not necessary make the nominated person in the F.I.R. guilty. The S.H.O. and Investigating Officer are required to treat the nominated persons in the F.I.R. strictly in accordance with law. Guidance in this regard is provided in the Cr.P.C., Police Rules, 1934 and Police Order, 2002. As elaborated lucidly in the above referred judgments of the Honourable Supreme, Court and this Court, registration of case does not require arrest or immediate arrest straightaway in every case unless the Investigating Officer is satisfied that the same is required in the interest of justice and on the basis of material collected by him against the named person in the F.I.R. Faiz Ahmad v. Additional Sessions Judge/ Justice of Peace, Sargodha and 3 tohers (2007 P Cr. L J 1935 Lahore) by Rizvi, J. Syed Shabbar Raza

Accused cannot be arrested unless tangible material becomes available

Indeed, we are conscious of the fact that upon the conferment of powers under section 22A(6), applications for quashment of F.I.Rs. have been multiplying and parties expect a Court to adjudicate upon the truth or otherwise of the allegations even without investigation process having been completed. Apparently, it happens on account of the apprehension of arrest that they face upon registration of F.I.Rs. containing allegations, which may be false. We need to reiterate that truth or falsehood of the allegations could only be determined during or after investigation. However, it needs to be made clear that though the police is required to investigate every allegation of commission of a cognizable offence a person named as an accused cannot be arrested unless some tangible material becomes available, which can cause a reasonable suspicion of his having committed the offence as laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court in Government of Sindh v. Raeesa Farooq 1994 SCMR 1283. Such protection is sufficient for any innocent person against whom a false F.I.R. is registered. Dr. Inayatullah Khilji and 9 others v. 1st Addtionla District and Sessions Judge (East) at Karachi and 2 others (2007 P Cr. L J 909 Karachi) by Ahmad, C.J. Sabihuddin and Arab, J. Faisal

Arrest only after collection of tangible evidence

It is made clear that investigation of the case does not mean that after registration of FIR, the accused must be arrested. Investigation means collection of evidence helping to form an opinion by the Investigating Officer for submission of final report under section 173, Cr.P.C. before the court of competent jurisdiction. Therefore, I.O. is not supposed to arrest the accused in any of circumstances after lodging FIR. He is further required to follow the procedure laid down in the Police Rules and may affect arrest after collecting tangible evidence against the accused persons. Umer Hayat v. Inspector General of Police, Islamabad (2015 P Cr. L J 1551) by Qureshi, J. Noor-ul-Haq

No arrest unless there is sufficient incriminating material

Before parting with this order, it is observed that registration of criminal case does not mean that respondents Nos.3 to 6 be arrested forthwith rather the investigation of the case would be conducted in an impartial and transparent manner and if the Investigating Officer comes to the conclusion that sufficient incriminating material is available, he shall proceed against them strictly in accordance with law without being influenced by any observation given above. Further, if the Investigating Officer concludes that the case was false and frivolous, he would feel no hesitation to proceed against the complainant under section 182 P.P.C. Saeed Ahmad v. Additional Sessions Judge and others (2013 Y L R 325 Lahore) by Khan, J. Shujaat Ali Khan

No arrest shall be effected unless a tangible evidence is collected by the investigation agency

In case such F.I.R. is registered, then no arrest shall be effected unless a tangible evidence is collected by the investigation agency against the nominated accused. Moreover, the police officer concerned may also take action against the applicant in accordance with law in case his F.I.R., if registered, is found false during investigation. Aijaz Ali Noonari v. Station House Officer, P.S. Hussainabad and another (2012 Y L R 360 Sindh) by Shaikh, J. Nisar Muhammad

No bar to register a case involving non-cognizable offence— but no arrest without order of the magistrate

In our humble view there is no bar on issuance of directions to register a case involving non-cognizable offence, but in such a situation, the police authorities can investigate the case only after getting order from a Magistrate of first or second class having power to try such case or send the same for trial to the Court of Session. Moreover, the accused cannot be arrested without obtaining warrant of arrest, as provided under section 155(2)(3), Cr.P.C.// Charges against the petitioner are very serious in nature because he by his acts, omissions and commission not only obtained gratification in the name of a judicial officer but also tried to lower the institution of judiciary in the eyes of General public. Muhammad Ameer Khan v. Khisro Pervez and others (2012 P Cr. L J 981 Peshawar) by Shah, J. Syed Sajjad Hassan and Abbasi, J. Fazal-i-Haq

Mere nomination of the person in F.I.R. does not require the arrest of the accuse

However, it may be clarified that merely registration of a case does not necessary make the nominated person in the F.I.R. guilty. The S.H.O. and Investigating Officer are required to treat the nominated persons in the F.I.R. strictly in accordance with law. Guidance in this regard is provided in the Cr.P.C., Police Rules, 1934 and Police Order, 2002. As elaborated lucidly in the above referred judgments of the Honourable Supreme, Court and this Court, registration of case does not require arrest or immediate arrest straightaway in every case unless the Investigating Officer is satisfied that the same is required in the interest of justice and on the basis of material collected by him against the named person in the F.I.R. Faiz Ahmad v. Additional Sessions Judge/ Justice of Peace, Sargodha and 3 tohers (2007 P Cr. L J 1935 Lahore) by Rizvi, J. Syed Shabbar Raza

Accused cannot be arrested unless tangible material becomes available

Indeed, we are conscious of the fact that upon the conferment of powers under section 22A(6), applications for quashment of F.I.Rs. have been multiplying and parties expect a Court to adjudicate upon the truth or otherwise of the allegations even without investigation process having been completed. Apparently, it happens on account of the apprehension of arrest that they face upon registration of F.I.Rs. containing allegations, which may be false. We need to reiterate that truth or falsehood of the allegations could only be determined during or after investigation. However, it needs to be made clear that though the police is required to investigate every allegation of commission of a cognizable offence a person named as an accused cannot be arrested unless some tangible material becomes available, which can cause a reasonable suspicion of his having committed the offence as laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court in Government of Sindh v. Raeesa Farooq 1994 SCMR 1283. Such protection is sufficient for any innocent person against whom a false F.I.R. is registered. Dr. Inayatullah Khilji and 9 others v. 1st Addtionla District and Sessions Judge (East) at Karachi and 2 others (2007 P Cr. L J 909 Karachi) by Ahmad, C.J. Sabihuddin and Arab, J. Faisal

Arrest only after collection of tangible evidence

It is made clear that investigation of the case does not mean that after registration of FIR, the accused must be arrested. Investigation means collection of evidence helping to form an opinion by the Investigating Officer for submission of final report under section 173, Cr.P.C. before the court of competent jurisdiction. Therefore, I.O. is not supposed to arrest the accused in any of circumstances after lodging FIR. He is further required to follow the procedure laid down in the Police Rules and may affect arrest after collecting tangible evidence against the accused persons. Umer Hayat v. Inspector General of Police, Islamabad (2015 P Cr. L J 1551) by Qureshi, J. Noor-ul-Haq

No arrest unless there is sufficient incriminating material

Before parting with this order, it is observed that registration of criminal case does not mean that respondents Nos.3 to 6 be arrested forthwith rather the investigation of the case would be conducted in an impartial and transparent manner and if the Investigating Officer comes to the conclusion that sufficient incriminating material is available, he shall proceed against them strictly in accordance with law without being influenced by any observation given above. Further, if the Investigating Officer concludes that the case was false and frivolous, he would feel no hesitation to proceed against the complainant under section 182 P.P.C. Saeed Ahmad v. Additional Sessions Judge and others (2013 Y L R 325 Lahore) by Khan, J. Shujaat Ali Khan

No arrest shall be effected unless a tangible evidence is collected by the investigation agency

In case such F.I.R. is registered, then no arrest shall be effected unless a tangible evidence is collected by the investigation agency against the nominated accused. Moreover, the police officer concerned may also take action against the applicant in accordance with law in case his F.I.R., if registered, is found false during investigation. Aijaz Ali Noonari v. Station House Officer, P.S. Hussainabad and another (2012 Y L R 360 Sindh) by Shaikh, J. Nisar Muhammad

No bar to register a case involving non-cognizable offence— but no arrest without order of the magistrate

In our humble view there is no bar on issuance of directions to register a case involving non-cognizable offence, but in such a situation, the police authorities can investigate the case only after getting order from a Magistrate of first or second class having power to try such case or send the same for trial to the Court of Session. Moreover, the accused cannot be arrested without obtaining warrant of arrest, as provided under section 155(2)(3), Cr.P.C.// Charges against the petitioner are very serious in nature because he by his acts, omissions and commission not only obtained gratification in the name of a judicial officer but also tried to lower the institution of judiciary in the eyes of General public. Muhammad Ameer Khan v. Khisro Pervez and others (2012 P Cr. L J 981 Peshawar) by Shah, J. Syed Sajjad Hassan and Abbasi, J. Fazal-i-Haq
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