Lahore High Court Chief Justice Criticizes Police for TikTok Distractions

LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum expressed her discontent on Thursday regarding police officers creating TikTok videos about missing girls, questioning their effectiveness in tracing these individuals. This remark came during a hearing of a petition filed by Salma Bibi, who is seeking the recovery of her allegedly missing daughter.

Justice Neelum’s frustration was evident as she scrutinized the police’s commitment to addressing the issue of missing girls. She summoned Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Karim to appear in person on November 11, highlighting her dissatisfaction with the committee tasked with recovering these girls. Earlier, police officials, including Punjab DIG (Crimes) Ali Janbaz and DIG (Legal) Awais Malik, presented themselves before the court, where a law officer reported on the status of abduction and recovery cases.

The report revealed that police have successfully recovered 2,810 girls, yet 452 remain unaccounted for, with some cases dating back to 2021. Justice Neelum pointedly remarked, “Where would police look for the cases registered in 2021? We are now in 2026. We cannot wait until 2032 to examine cases registered in 2024,” underscoring the urgency of the situation.

As the court prepares for the upcoming hearing with IGP Abdul Karim, the implications of this case extend beyond individual recoveries, reflecting broader concerns about police priorities and the effectiveness of their strategies in addressing serious social issues.