Bootlegger: Police helpless against influential dealer

Large quantity of liquor seized from F-11 house

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police seems helpless to take action against a known liquor dealer in the capital, Malik Tariq.

A number of raids have been conducted and cases registered over the past few years against him but Tariq, and his business, remain unscathed. There have also been allegations of police and other officials conniving with the suspect.

Police raided one of Tariq’s houses situated in Sector F-11 on January 2nd and seized 1779 bottles, 37 cans and 666 cases of liquor. Tariq, however, escaped from the scene once again. A case has been registered against him and two other suspects, Muhammad Jahanzeb and Zaheer Ahmed.

Sources said that police arrest slum dwellers on daily basis on charges of bootlegging but were either reluctant or helpless to move against the big fish.

The raid was conducted under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner (Shalimar) Waqar Cheema. Police confiscated the consignment but did not seal the premises, sources said.

Police said the liquor was brought from Karachi and was to be supplied in the capital without a license. Tariq’s name also came under discussion during the hearing of a case pertaining to missing liquor containers.

Shalimar SHO, who is also the investigation officer for the case, said the suspects were yet to be arrested. He said the police were clueless about Tariq’s whereabouts. “I hope he will be arrested soon. Nobody is above the law,” said the SHO.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2016.