Police, FIA to liaise with Interpol

Initiative aimed at repatriating absconders and criminals who fled abroad

LAHORE:

Punjab Police announced the establishment of a Liaison Cell between the police, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Interpol to facilitate the extradition of proclaimed offenders (POs) who fled from Pakistan to foreign countries.

Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar said that the cell will be functional 24/7 and ordered all RPOs, CPOs and DPOs to coordinate with plaintiffs to arrest proclaimed offenders inside and outside the country. He additionally tasked field officers to contact the complainants of cases where the suspects had travelled abroad. If complainants were not approached by an officer, they could lodge a complaint at the 1787 complaint center, which is functional even on Sundays, the IGP said.

If PO is residing abroad, the complainant should immediately contact their concerned DPO so that practical steps can be taken to arrest him, he added. IGP Anwar further said that if POs are residing in regions including the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas, including the countries with which Pakistan has an agreement for extradition, immediate action will be taken to arrest them by the joint cell and every facility of Interpol will be used to arrest the PO.

The IGP said that police officers should prioritise arresting POs of all cases, including theft, murder, fraud, possession of property and cheque bouncing as soon as possible. He warned that officers who are negligent will have strict departmental action taken against them.

IG Punjab directed the RPOs, DPOs to launch a strict crackdown in their respective districts to arrest POs and send weekly reports to the Central Police Office. He added that DPOs should personally monitor the dragnet and take indiscriminate actions against all types of proclaimed offenders, so that justice can be provided to victims of crime and an atmosphere of security can be promoted among the people. Over the past several years, assassins hired by POs residing abroad were being reported across the province, particularly within Lahore. Several cases investigated by police involved suspected shooters who installed CCTV cameras in the surrounding where they were to hit their target, so that their ‘boss’ could watch the hit take place.

CIA Police killed two suspected shooters on Monday night, involved in the murder of at least seven persons over extortion and cable network disputes. The deceased suspects were reportedly being instructed by their ‘bosses’ abroad. According to details, CIA Iqbal Town conducted a raid on Maulana Shaukat Ali Road to arrest Umar Gujjar, who was reportedly involved in murder Faisal Samra and Muhammad Ali Butt. He resisted arrest and in the ensuing gunfight, he sustained gunshot wounds. Gujjar succumbed to his injuries in Lahore Jinnah Hospital.

In another incident, CIA Civil Lines conducted raided a hideout near Saggian Bridge. In the gunfight, a suspected PO identified as Saif Rasool was killed. He was allegedly involved in the murder of four accused persons. Both suspects were reportedly involved in a killing spree on the instructions of high-ranking criminals based abroad.

Punjab Police and FIA would need to enlist the services of Interpol if they were to arrest the “bosses,” which would be a tedious process, were it not for the joint cell.

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2023.