Inter-provincial gang of car-lifters busted

Eight stolen vehicles recovered from their possesion

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) of the Islamabad Police on Sunday claimed to have busted an inter-provincial gang of car lifters while eight vehicles worth millions of rupees were recovered from their possession.

In a statement on Sunday, an Islamabad Police spokesperson said that a special team had been constituted under the supervision of ACLC in-charge SI Liaqat Ali and comprising ASI Manzoor Ilahi, Waheed Ahmad, Afsar Shah, Qaisar Khan, Nisar Ahmad along with other officials. They managed to apprehend three members of an inter-provincial gang of car lifters, including Sajad Khan alias Zubair, Hazir Ali and Ayaz Khan.

They also recovered eight cars from the possession of these men which bore registration numbers ATR-787, CWK-0020, LEA-8396, LEF-2328, LEF-7579, BRE-064, IDG-886 and LEE-3914.

During initial investigations, the suspects confessed to stealing vehicles from different areas of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and selling them in different areas of neighbouring Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Operations DIG Waqaruddin Syed appreciated the performance of ACLC team and directed the officials to intensify efforts to curb car and motorbike lifting incidents.

Crackdown on unregistered vehicles

The Rawalpindi City Traffic Police (CTP) on Sunday launched a crackdown against vehicles plying the thoroughfares of the garrison city without any registration number plates. However, it was observed that the operation was only focused on bikers, small cars and rickshaws.

Police did not seem to be bothered with intercepting luxury saloons which freely navigated the major thoroughfare of Murree Road without any registration plates.

When asked, the traffic police vowed it will take action against anyone violating the law.

Meanwhile, a CTP spokesperson said that during the first three days of the campaign, they had impounded as many as 364 motorbikes, 66 rickshaws, and 41 cars in different parts of the city for driving without popper registration documents.

At least 55 motorists got their vehicles released after getting them registered from the Excise and Taxation department.

The official added that driving such vehicles was not only illegal but a security risk as well. He urged citizens to get their vehicles registered.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2020.