Comprehensive Guide: Filing Police Misconduct Complaints in Pakistan (2025)

(Updated 18 August 2025 | Covers Digital Portals, Legal Routes & Evidence Protocols)

Pervasive Corruption: 41.4% of Pakistanis rank police as the "most corrupt" sector, with bribery, custodial killings, and evidence tampering as key issues [4][8].
Political Interference: Officers often act under pressure from "wealthy landowners, politicians, or military elites" [8][9].
2022 Torture Law: Coerced confessions are now inadmissible in court, with offenders facing fines up to ₨100,000 [4].

1. IGP Complaint Portals (Province-Specific)

Province	Portal/Link	Key Features
Punjab	SMS Complaint System	Text complaints to 8785; track via token number [9]
Sindh	IGP Complaint Management System	Online FIR disputes, bribery reports, illegal detention claims [6]
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa	Online Complaint Form	Category-based submissions (e.g., "false FIR," "corrupt practices") [11]
Islamabad	Central Police Office Database	Email/fax/SMS complaints logged with digital evidence [9]

2. National Citizen Portals

Helpline 1099: Ministry of Human Rights hotline for torture/extralegal killings [4].
NAB (National Accountability Bureau): For corruption exceeding ₨500 million; email [email protected] [4][9]. Limited for routine misconduct.
PM Citizen Portal: Escalates unresolved cases to federal oversight [9].

A. Provincial Ombudsman (Mohtasib)

Jurisdiction: Investigates delays, negligence, or abuse by police [4].
Process: 1. File written complaint with evidence at regional office. 2. Hearing scheduled within 14 days. 3. Binding recommendations issued.
Limitation: Cannot prosecute; forwards criminal cases to NAB/FIA [9].

B. Sessions Court FIR Petition

Section 22-A CrPC: Directly petition judge if police refuse FIR registration [8].
Success Rate: 68% of petitions result in court-ordered FIRs in Punjab (2024 data) [8].

Misconduct Type	Action	Evidence Needed
FIR Non-Registration	1. SMS IGP portal. 2. File Section 22-A petition	Witness affidavits, written complaint copy
Custodial Torture	1. Call 1099. 2. Medical report within 24hr. 3. File Ombudsman case	Medical certificate, photos/videos [4]
Bribery Demand	1. Secretly record interaction. 2. Submit via IGP portal with transaction ID	Audio/video recording, mobile money receipt
False "Encounter" Killing	1. Report to Human Rights Commission. 2. File FIR under Sec. 302 PPC	Autopsy report, eyewitnesses [8]

Witness Protection: Use encrypted apps (Signal/Telegram) to share evidence; avoid police station visits alone [8].
Retaliation Tactics: Police may threaten counter-FIRs—preemptively file complaint paper trail [9].
Deadlines: Report custodial violence within 48 hours for admissible medical evidence.

Digital: Timestamped photos/videos, call recordings, SMS screenshots.
Forensic: Medical certificates (govt. hospital only), autopsy reports.
Documentary: FIR copies, bribe payment receipts, witness affidavits (notarized).
Corroborative: Match injuries with torture tools (littar marks, roola fractures) [8].

Track Complaints: For IGP portals, SMS STATUS <token> to 9966 [6][11].
Escalate Strategically: If no response in 7 days, forward portal receipt to:
- Provincial Home Secretary
- UNODC Pakistan ([email protected]) [13]
NGO Support: HRCP or Transparency International Pakistan offer free legal aid for high-risk cases [4][8].

Collect Evidence: Record bribe/torture; preserve medical/financial docs.
File Digitally:
- IGP portal (province-specific)
- OR SMS 8785 (Punjab)/1099 (national).
Escalate If Ignored:
- Ombudsman complaint → Sessions Court petition.
Protect Yourself:
- Share evidence via encrypted channels.
- Avoid police station visits alone.

"Complaining isn't rebellion—it's your right in a system gasping for reform." [8]

Share this guide: Break the silence, not the law.

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