Lahore High Court Orders Action Over Viral Video of Shaved Detainees in Gujranwala

Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Gujranwala to conduct a thorough inquiry and take action against those responsible for shaving the heads of detained suspects and circulating the video on social media.

In a written ruling, Justice Ali Zia Bajwa observed that the role of the police is to prevent crime and conduct investigations in accordance with the law, not to punish or humiliate individuals.

The decision was issued while disposing of a contempt of court petition filed against the Inspector General (IG) of Punjab Police, the RPO Gujranwala, and other officials over the viral video involving detainees.

The court emphasized that individuals in police custody are entitled to fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. It stated that the police have a constitutional duty to treat every detainee with dignity and respect, and that the law does not permit the humiliation or public degradation of suspects.

Justice Bajwa further remarked that the judiciary would not tolerate the humiliation or public ridicule of any individual by law enforcement authorities. The court reiterated that policing is meant to uphold the law through lawful investigation, not to impose punishment outside the judicial process.

The ruling also noted that regardless of how serious the allegations against a person may be, every accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. It added that any misuse of authority that undermines human dignity is contrary to the rule of law.

According to the judgment, the police stated in their report that they were not involved in shaving the detainees’ heads. Nevertheless, the court directed the RPO Gujranwala to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident and ensure that those found responsible are held accountable.

After issuing its directions, the Lahore High Court disposed of the petition.