Cool customers: Police officials devise new ‘summer strategy’

Locals said cops no longer stopped them asking for cash but for food and drinks.

MIANWALI QURESHIAN:

Police and traffic officials have adopted a novel way to bribe locals in the district during the summer.  Dozens of police officials were reported to have ordered residents to give them a ride on their motorbikes to the nearest dhaaba and buy them Rs1000 worth of food or drinks.

According to several residents in Mianwali, they were recently stopped by traffic officials who ordered to take them to the nearest market and buy them cold drinks worth Rs100. “The traffic officials tend to ask for smaller amounts but these aren’t negotiable. They stop someone the moment they get thirsty and then ask for a lift and drinks,” said commuter Hadi Bukhsh. “They do it all very politely and when I said I was in a hurry he said ‘I was just about to cut you a challan and that might take some time’. Then I just got him the drinks,” he added.

Dozens of residents have protested in front of the district coordination office (DCOs) in this regard. “Police officials actually tell us ‘We’re not asking you for any money’ but then ask us to just drop them off for lunch. They run up a bill for over Rs1000 and then tell the waiter we will pay,” said Moza Rangpur residents Muhammad Bilal and Asher Kiani.

Moza Rangpur, Tajpur, Kalar Wali, Chak-63NP residents protested against police officials including Assistant Superintendent (ASI) Niaz Ahmed and three other officials. “These charges are all false. I didn’t take any bribes I was merely socialising with the people and we decided to share a meal,” Ahmed said. “Niaz Ahmed told everyone that we ‘wanted’ to take him out for dinner. It isn’t socializing when you’ve been threatened you’ll be locked up if you don’t,” said Anwar Haroon, a Tajpur resident.

Locals said that in some cases police officials and traffic officers deployed near the Thal Hasan Chowki cordoned off the nearby roads every evening.

“They snatch up the keys to motorcycles parked outside shops and houses and ask the owners to take them out to dinner or by them Rs100 worth of cold drinks to get the keys back,” said FSc student Raza.

Protesters said that traffic officials used this new bribery technique much more frequently. “They just stop the nearest motorcyclist whenever they are thirsty. There doesn’t need to be any violation it just depends on their mood and they sit on the bike,” said Sultan Ameen, a Chak-298 RB resident.

The Rahim Yar Khan district police officer (DPO) said that recently dozens of police officials had been suspended or expelled for taking bribes. “It appears that they have resorted to extortion in other means but all such officials will be reprimanded,” he said.

Chowki in-charge Sardar Jam Huzoor Bukhsh said he would personally take action against the police officials that had been mentioned. “I do not know anything about this. The charges are false. I once asked a commuter to drop me off at a dhaaba but I never asked him for any money,” said traffic official Imran.

Residents said that the police and traffic officials had tweaked their bribery techniques to accommodate their weather. “Now they don’t ask for money. They just keep stopping people and saying that it’s extremely hot and they should all go to the nearest stall to have a cold drink. The implication of not agreeing is clear,” said Muhammad Waseem.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2011.