Rickshaw driver falls prey to police’s culture of bribery
Khalid self-immolated after protesting against alleged police extortion
PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
In a tragic turn of events, a rickshaw driver, Khalid, who had attempted on Saturday to commit suicide by setting himself on fire after refusing to give bribe to a traffic police official on Sharae Faisal, succumbed to his injuries in the Burns Ward of Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi during treatment on Monday.
According to Khalid’s statement that is being shared on social media, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Mohammed Hanif had been extorting Rs100 from the driver daily. He gave the policeman Rs50 on Saturday, but the latter forced him to pay Rs100 and on refusal, the ASI handed him a challan. Faced with the fine, Khalid sprinkled oil on his body and set himself on fire.
WATCH: Woman ‘abusing, threatening’ Islamabad cops arrested
On receiving news of the incident, Karachi Additional Inspector-General (AIG) Dr Ameer Sheikh took notice and suspended ASI Hanif. The AIG had paid a visit on Sunday to the hospital to inquire after the health of Khalid and presented a cheque of compensation to the relatives of the rickshaw driver. However, Khalid and his family refused to accept it and demanded justice instead.
Khalid had said that the traffic police officers posted at the same picket had pressed him into giving bribes many times in the past as well, due to which he was compelled to take such a drastic step. The police had seized Khalid's rickshaw.
An inquiry report had been summoned by Sheikh from the Traffic DIG. The DIG took action immediately and suspended ASI Hanif after which a case was registered against the ASI by Khalid’s brother, Abdul Aziz, and he was arrested.
The deceased rickshaw driver had asked for justice when AIG Sheikh visited him at the hospital on Sunday. Khalid requested the police official to take action and put an end to traffic police officers harassing poor people for money. The deceased driver was a resident of Humair Town, Model Colony.
tempt: Traffic wardens warned against issuing tickets to poor
Police chief’s reaction
On Sunday, the Karachi police chief had said that keeping poverty in mind, rickshaw drivers will not be fined more than Rs150 in a day.
While addressing the media, he had said that the incident of Khalid’s self-immolation was very sad. He said traffic policemen had imposed a fine on him because his rickshaw was not equipped with a speedometre. Fining the driver for this was illegal, he said.
The police said that the challan was identified by entering the number of the rickshaw in the electronic system where it was revealed that the driver was fined 18 times in different areas in the past two years.
The Karachi police chief ordered the traffic police officers to give a warning and let those people go who cannot afford to pay the fine. It was also requested that rickshaw drivers respect traffic laws and not park their vehicles in places they shouldn't. He added that if someone had a complaint regarding police's behaviour, they should contact the 15 helpline, police's WhatsApp number or their Facebook page.
The Karachi police chief had announced that if any rickshaw driver is unable to pay the challan, then he would pay it himself.
In a tragic turn of events, a rickshaw driver, Khalid, who had attempted on Saturday to commit suicide by setting himself on fire after refusing to give bribe to a traffic police official on Sharae Faisal, succumbed to his injuries in the Burns Ward of Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi during treatment on Monday.
According to Khalid’s statement that is being shared on social media, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Mohammed Hanif had been extorting Rs100 from the driver daily. He gave the policeman Rs50 on Saturday, but the latter forced him to pay Rs100 and on refusal, the ASI handed him a challan. Faced with the fine, Khalid sprinkled oil on his body and set himself on fire.
WATCH: Woman ‘abusing, threatening’ Islamabad cops arrested
On receiving news of the incident, Karachi Additional Inspector-General (AIG) Dr Ameer Sheikh took notice and suspended ASI Hanif. The AIG had paid a visit on Sunday to the hospital to inquire after the health of Khalid and presented a cheque of compensation to the relatives of the rickshaw driver. However, Khalid and his family refused to accept it and demanded justice instead.
Khalid had said that the traffic police officers posted at the same picket had pressed him into giving bribes many times in the past as well, due to which he was compelled to take such a drastic step. The police had seized Khalid's rickshaw.
An inquiry report had been summoned by Sheikh from the Traffic DIG. The DIG took action immediately and suspended ASI Hanif after which a case was registered against the ASI by Khalid’s brother, Abdul Aziz, and he was arrested.
The deceased rickshaw driver had asked for justice when AIG Sheikh visited him at the hospital on Sunday. Khalid requested the police official to take action and put an end to traffic police officers harassing poor people for money. The deceased driver was a resident of Humair Town, Model Colony.
tempt: Traffic wardens warned against issuing tickets to poor
Police chief’s reaction
On Sunday, the Karachi police chief had said that keeping poverty in mind, rickshaw drivers will not be fined more than Rs150 in a day.
While addressing the media, he had said that the incident of Khalid’s self-immolation was very sad. He said traffic policemen had imposed a fine on him because his rickshaw was not equipped with a speedometre. Fining the driver for this was illegal, he said.
The police said that the challan was identified by entering the number of the rickshaw in the electronic system where it was revealed that the driver was fined 18 times in different areas in the past two years.
The Karachi police chief ordered the traffic police officers to give a warning and let those people go who cannot afford to pay the fine. It was also requested that rickshaw drivers respect traffic laws and not park their vehicles in places they shouldn't. He added that if someone had a complaint regarding police's behaviour, they should contact the 15 helpline, police's WhatsApp number or their Facebook page.
The Karachi police chief had announced that if any rickshaw driver is unable to pay the challan, then he would pay it himself.