LAHORE — Justice Amjad Rafiq of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued a landmark judgment, declaring the District Intelligence Committee’s (DIC) decision to deny security to a citizen as null and void and reaffirming the state’s constitutional duty to protect life.
The 10-page written verdict came in response to a petition filed by Saif Ali, who sought police protection after receiving death threats. The court ruled that the DIC’s report carries only recommendatory value, while the final authority lies with the police to decide on providing security.
Read More: Landmark Step for Child Protection
Justice Amjad Rafiq underscored that protection of life is an unconditional constitutional right, stating that the state must take all possible measures to ensure the safety of its citizens. Citing a verse from the Holy Quran, the judgment read: “Whoever saves one life, it is as if he has saved all of humanity.”
According to the petitioner, he was the star witness in the murder case of his sister and brother-in-law and had been receiving continuous death threats from the accused’s relatives. Despite this, police advised him to limit his movements, while the Inspector General of Punjab noted that the DIC had recommended he hire private guards instead of receiving official security.
Read More: Zardari signs landmark bill to establish Pakistan land port authority
The court observed that under the Home Department Policy 2018, there are 16 categories of police protection, covering senior government officials, judges, and dignitaries. However, the Inspector General of Police is empowered to grant security to any citizen for up to 30 days based on credible intelligence.
Justice Rafiq also cited the Police Order 2002 and the Punjab Witness Protection Act 2018, both of which obligate law enforcement to safeguard citizens and witnesses in criminal cases. The ruling described the denial of security as unjustified and in violation of constitutional, legal, and moral principles.
Read More: NA approves landmark bill to set up Pakistan land port authority
The court set aside the DIC’s decision and directed the IG Punjab to immediately provide police protection to the petitioner, reinforcing that any citizen facing threats to life is entitled to state protection.