IHC directs changes to police character certificates to make the process easier for citizens

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that police cannot mention criminal cases in character certificates issued to individuals who have been finally acquitted by a court.

Justice Ayyaz Shaukat issued the ruling while hearing a petition filed by a citizen seeking the removal of an FIR registered at Shalimar Police Station from his character certificate.

The court directed the Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) to establish a mechanism to ensure that FIRs ending in final acquittal are excluded from character certificates.

It clarified that police may retain such information in internal records but cannot include it in certificates issued to citizens, particularly those travelling abroad.

The IHC also declared the petitioner's previously issued certificate unlawful, observing that describing an acquitted person as merely discharged misrepresents their legal status.

It further held that retaining such references violates constitutional protections under Articles 4, 9, 14 and 15.