Corruption: Palm-greasing cops hurl accusations

Dismissed constable accuses another of taking a bribe; accused denies claim.

RAWALPINDI:

A police constable has been booked by Civil Lines Police on the complaint of another constable over allegations of bribe, dishonesty and official indiscipline signifying rampant corruption in the department.

Constable Qadeer Ahmed, himself dismissed for being absent from duty, has filed a complaint against Constable Rameez Haider, who is an assistant in the office of Rawalpindi Operations Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

Ahmed said that Haider had demanded money in return for his reinstatement and had threatened him in case of non-payment.

Civil Lines Police booked Haider after Qadeer alleged that the former took Rs4,500 from him to save his job.

Qadeer was issued a show cause notice for being absent from duty for three months.

The complainant claimed that following his dismissal, Haider asked for another Rs2,000, saying he would try to help him get reinstated.

The dismissed constable paid him anther Rs1,000, but it did not help his ‘cause’ and despite the payment of Rs5,500, his position was not reinstated.

Haider complained to the police that he had been blackmailed to pay the bribe when he was facing dismissal.

Qadeer said his absence from work was because as an only son, he had to take care of his critically ill mother, who has since passed away. During this time, he had to make arrangement for her death as well.

On the other hand, the accused has approached the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi bench, requesting cancellation of the FIR against him, as the charges were baseless and without any substance.

Haider, through his lawyer Muhammad Zardad, maintained before the court that no departmental inquiry was held against him on the charges pinned on him by Qadeer and there was no eyewitness to the alleged bribe transaction.

He further said that the complainant had filed a departmental appeal against his dismal, but did not make any mentioned of illegal gratification, which nullifies his bribe claim and therefore, the case against him should be cancelled.



Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2011.