No ‘handbrake’ on cops using stolen vehicles

AVLS staff have been found using seized vehicles for personal purposes

LAHORE:

The private use of stolen vehicles recovered by Anti-Vehicle Lifting Staff (AVLS) officers and personnel remains ongoing.

Mustafa Town Police registered a case against an AVLS DSP and a Muharrar for using a vehicle seized from a citizen. After the case was filed, SSP Investigation Lahore Syed Hasnain Haider suspended DSP Shakeel Ahmed and Muharrar Pervaiz and ordered a departmental inquiry against them.

According to the details, a vehicle was seized from a citizen named Ramzan in Layyah some time ago, which was shown to be in the police’s possession, but the vehicle was physically absent from the police station. When the incident came to the notice of SP AVLS Rana Zahid Hussain, he found the vehicle in the records, but physically it was missing.

During an investigation, it was found that the vehicle was being used by Inspector Rana Shakeel, who was posted as DSP AVLS Iqbal Town Division. After being found guilty in the investigation, a case was registered against DS AVLS Rana and the Moharrar AVLS Iqbal Town, on the statement of AVLS sub-inspector Mohammad Azam.

It was revealed that inspector Rana Shakeel was using the vehicle for personal purposes.

Taking notice of the incident of AVLS personnel using a stolen vehicle, SSP Investigation Lahore Syed Hasnain Haider suspended Inspector Rana and Moharrar Pervaiz. SP Investigation Model Town was directed to investigate the incident and submit a report.

SSP Investigation Lahore Hasnain said that further departmental action will be taken in the light of the inquiry report and he was adhering to a zero-tolerance policy against officials who abuse their authority. He added; said that, the process of departmental accountability in the investigation police is being made more stringent.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2022.