Abuse of power: Claims of ending thana culture bite the dust

Police raid hotels and rest houses just to renegotiate their ‘rates’, observers say

LAHORE: Police’s highhandedness continues unabated, observers say, after a case emerged in which people were arrested for “preparing to have illegitimate intercourse”.

FIR No 705/17 was registered with Sanda police station against four suspects, including a woman, under offences section 371 A, B (buying and selling for the purpose of sex), Anti-Drugs Act and provision of protection to a criminal.



A press statement issued by SHO Hammad Akhtar said police raided a house to arrest a proclaimed offender. During the raid, the main suspect managed to flee, but police arrested four other suspects, including a woman, “red handed” from the scene. Police also claimed to have recovered two bottles of liquor from their possession.



Advocate Azhar Siddique termed the step of Sanda police to insert section 371 A, B on allegations of “preparing for illegitimate intercourse” a mockery of justice. He said that it was impossible to determine what actually defines “preparation for sex”.

He also criticised the practice of releasing video footage and photos of the suspects to the media. He said it was a sensitive issue and one could not convict somebody before a court has its say in the matter. Such steps would tantamount to defamation, Azhar added. He said inserting section 371 A, B in FIRs of which police were the complainants, was against the spirit of the law.



While commenting on the content and charges levelled in the FIR, Advocate Usman Cheema termed the step as “rubbish”. He said releasing photos of suspects to media in this case was an attempt of a ‘show trial’, which was not allowed according to the law.

Commenting on the issue, SHO Hammad Akhtar defended the step, saying that insertion of section 371 A, B in FIR was right as the suspects had paid Rs5,000 and another suspect had received it after entering the premises. He also defended the sharing of photos of suspects with media, saying it was common practice.

A senior police officer told The Express Tribune that it was an old and common practice of police, who in connivance with certain elements of the media, blackmail people to mint money from them. Revealing some astonishing facts, he said a major share of ‘black money’ at police stations comes from raids at hotels or rest houses.

“Police are not allowed to enter private premises without a warrant. However, police use section 54s of CrPC, which allows arrests without warrant, and 216 of PPC (harbouring a criminal) to go beyond their bounds. Police conduct raids at hotels and rest house to re-negotiate their ‘rates’.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2017.