49 cops suspended for ‘misuse of power’

CPO initiates departmental inquiries against suspended policemen

RAWALPINDI: As part of the departmental accountability process, at least 49 police personnel were suspended and inquiries initiated against them for abetting criminal activities and misuse of power.

Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Ahsan Younus said on Wednesday that the suspended officials would face legal as well as departmental action, clarifying that they would be treated like a suspect, not a member of the police force.

The official figures disclosed that police constables identified as Qamar Abbas, Waqar Mehboob, and Qasim faced registration of cases on charges of abetting gamblers and abusing their powers while Ikramullah, Yasir Khan, Shan Ali, and Saqlain were suspended for their alleged involvement in murder attempt cases.

Constable Azharul Islam would face inquiry as he was found to be an accomplice of the drug peddlers.

Other police personnel including Sub-Inspector Imtiaz Hussain, Head-Constable Arshad Mehmood, and Constable Mubashir had charges of power abuse and facilitating gamblers after which they were suspended from their duties.

Further, two sub-inspectors–Faiz Sultan and Qajid Hussain, Head constable Aijaz Hussain, Constables Chun Zain, and Qamar Shehzad, Mohsin Yasin and Tasawwar Hussain committed negligence in duties and took bribes owing to which they were barred from their duties until completion of inquiry against them.

Constable Shehzad was found to be drunk whilst on duty while Constable Ahsan fought with a citizen while being in uniform.

Further, the constables identified as Junaid, Nauman Qayyum, and Kamran facilitated suspects in murder cases.

Constable Zubair faced action on possessing unlicensed arms while Constable Rizwan had put people in illegal confinement.

Moreover, CPO Younus said that it was the essence of the law that it treated everybody equally. He added that the involvement of police personnel in criminal activities would not be tolerated at any cost. Younus clarified the policemen found abetting a crime would have cases registered against them under the same charges, asserting that they would be treated like a suspect, not a police official.

Rawalpindi police were following the policy of transparency and honesty, he added.

The CPO vowed to continue legal and departmental action if any official was found involved or encouraging a crime. The process of departmental accountability would continue in the police department, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2020.