Cops face probe for helping Afghan national travel on fake papers

Inquiry initiated against Rawalpindi police ASI

ISLAMABAD:

Two police officials have been suspended for facilitating an Afghan national to travel to Canada on forged travel documents via Islamabad airport.

An inquiry has also been launched against the ASI of Rawalpindi police, who was deployed at the airport as a protocol officer, and a head constable of the Special Branch Islamabad police deployed at the airport for allegedly facilitating an Afghan citizen to travel to Canada on fake travel documents.

The Afghan national was off-loaded from the PIA flight (PK781) bound for Toronto Canada on January 11 by the immigration authorities for allegedly trying to travel on fake documents.

Police sources said that during the preliminary investigation, it transpired that the two police officials facilitated the Afghan national to travel abroad.

A senior FIA officer confirmed that an investigation is under way against the two policemen.

On the other hand, the two police officials have been suspended and a departmental inquiry has been launched against them.

A spokesman for the Rawalpindi police said that after the airport incident, the ASI has been suspended and a charge sheet has been issued and a departmental inquiry is also under way against him.

On the other hand, a spokesperson for the Islamabad police said that the head constable of the Special Branch has been suspended and an inquiry has been started against him.

The police spokesperson further said that Islamabad police believes in the process of self-accountability.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2022.