PESHAWAR: A special joint investigation team of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police comprising DIG CTD, SP CTD Kohat, SP Investigation Karak and SP Special Branch is probing the reported theft of crude oil from pipelines in Karak.
The joint investigation team was formed on November 26 after the issue came to the notice of IGP Nasir Khan Durrani. It has already embarked upon the investigation by seeking help from technical experts from the relevant fields.
The reported theft of crude oil from the pipelines was initially discovered by Karak police in November this year when during routine patrolling the SHO concerned identified a six-foot-deep hole specially dug for tampering with the pipelines. Soon after discovering the hole, cases were registered under the relevant sections of law. In addition, a letter was also written by the regional police officer of Kohat to MOL authorities, informing them about the theft and urging them to employ modern security sensors along the pipeline to check the pilferage.
A meeting in this regard was also held with MOL authorities at the office of the K-P IGP during which Durrani was briefed about the incident. Taking strong notice of the incident and the technicalities involved, Durrani formed a joint investigation team comprising neutral officers to probe into the matter. The committee has been mandated to incorporate technical experts in the investigation and to ensure that the real culprits are identified and prosecuted in court.
Last week, Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Nighat Orakzai said on the floor of the provincial assembly that the theft had been carried out over a period of eight months and resulted in a loss of around Rs15 to 20 billion. The PPP MPA said an FIR has been registered, but the government has done nothing in this regard so far. She maintained the stolen oil was sold to petrol pumps in the area.
Adviser to chief minister on prisons and MPA from Karak, Malik Qasim Khan Khattak, backed Orakzai’s assertions, saying the pilferage took place on a large scale with all concerned high-ups aware of it. He said 25 vehicles were filled with crude oil each night.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2014.
COMMENTS (1)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Salute to the SHO who reported the crime and did not ask for a share in the looted oil. Salute to IG KPK for taking immediate and strict action to stop this activity. Salute to CM KPK for deploying strict anti-corruption policies and giving a free hand to the KPK Police and also fulfilling the requirements oft the KPK Police.