ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday issued final notice to the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations of Islamabad Police for failing to submit the charge sheet in a case registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in 2024.
In its written order, ATC judge Tahir Abbas Sipra observed that the DIG, Muhammad Javad Tariq, had prima facie committed disobedience of court orders and directed him to explain why he should not be punished under the relevant provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
According to the written orders, prima facie sufficient material is available against the officer concerned to proceed against him under Section 37 of the ATA, 1997, who was legally bound to submit a challan before this court.
The court noted that despite repeated directions, the investigating officer had failed to submit a complete challan (charge sheet), resulting in delays in the proceedings.
The court observed that the interim challan did not clearly specify the status of the accused, preventing the commencement of the trial.
The trial could not be commenced as the status of the accused was not made clear in the interim challan, it says.
During the hearing, the special prosecutor and newly-appointed investigating officer, Inspector Zafar Iqbal, requested a short adjournment to submit a detailed report and a complete challan. The court was informed that the investigating officer had been replaced and that future court directions would be complied with in letter and spirit.
The order says that a notice u/s 37 of the ATA, 1997, was issued to the DIG (Operations) on the last date of the hearing, and he was directed to submit his written reply. However, neither the officer concerned appeared nor was his written reply submitted.
The court order says that Section 19 (1) of the ATA, 1997 provides that “where investigation is not completed within the period of 30 days from the date of recording of First Information Report (FIR) under section154 Cr.PC of the Code, the investigation officer, or the JIT shall after expiration of such period, the Public Prosecutor forwards an interim report with a clear message about the investigation made until then, and the court shall commence the trial based on the interim report unless the court decides that it cannot proceed with the case in such a way.
It says that the investigation agency is bound under the law to submit a challan within the stipulated period as enunciated in Section 19 (1) of the ATA, 1997, and the failure to comply with will be considered as contempt of court u/s 19 (2) of the ATA. Section 37 of the ATA provides that an ATC shall have the powers to punish with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and a fine any person who disobeys the orders or directions of the court or does anything which, by other law, constitutes contempt of court. Prima facie, sufficient material is available against the concerned officer, i.e., DIG (Operations) Islamabad to proceed against him u/s 37 of the ATA, 1997, who was legally bound to submit a challan before this court but failed to do so, it says
The order says that a final notice u/s 37 of the ATA 1997 is issued to the DIG, explaining why he should not be convicted and sentenced, declaring him guilty of contempt of court.
The order says that the DIG will have to submit his written reply by the next hearing to be held on July 6.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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