The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that police cannot mention criminal cases in character certificates issued to individuals who have been acquitted by a court. Justice Ayyaz Shaukat issued the landmark ruling while allowing a petition filed by a citizen seeking the removal of an FIR registered at Shalimar Police Station from his police character certificate. The court directed the Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) to establish a procedure ensuring that FIRs ending in final acquittal are not mentioned in character certificates.

In its ruling, the court observed that there was no legal justification for including references to cases in which individuals had been finally acquitted. Such references could unfairly portray acquitted citizens as criminals. The court clarified that police could retain such information in their internal records, but it could not be included in character certificates issued to citizens, particularly those travelling abroad. It further observed that citizens should not be forced to approach courts to secure rights already guaranteed to them under the law.

The court also declared the police character certificate previously issued to the petitioner unlawful, noting that it incorrectly described him as discharged during investigation despite the court’s final decision. The judgment stated that portraying an acquitted individual as merely discharged undermined their legal status. The court further observed that continuing to mention an FIR after final acquittal in a police character certificate violated citizens’ constitutional protections under Articles 4, 9, 14 and 15 of the Constitution.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)