Rawalpindi cops accused of ‘falsely’ implicating citizen

RPO forms probe body under investigations SSP

RAWALPINDI:

Officials of the Civil Lines and RA Bazaar police have been accused of falsely implicating a citizen a in drug-related case.

Seeking justice, the family members of the victim approached the Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO) Babar Sarfraz Alpa. The request submitted to the RPO by the complainant contains mind-boggling revelations as well as demands to provide justice by conducting a transparent inquiry.

RPO Babar Sarfraz Alpa has designated SSP Investigation Zunaira Azfar as the inquiry officer and requested a comprehensive report.

The victim stated he resided in the Civil Lines area for 50 years. His son, Asif Khan, is involved in the real estate business. On March 18, Asif Khan was sitting in a vehicle with two companions when law enforcement officers from Civil Lines arrived in two cars and motorcycles. They confiscated their mobile phones, asked for their names, returned the phones to two individuals, and took Asif Khan away in the car.

A labourer, Shiraz, conveyed the information over the phone. "I called on the 15 and reached the civil line police station while searching." It has been discovered that ASI Liaquat who had brought Asif Khan and threatened to frame him in the case of possessing five kilos of hashish and send him to jail if he did not pay a bribe of Rs1 million.

He alleged that the SHO was also involved in the crime.

Last year, the RA Bazaar police had picked up Asif Khan. A departmental action was taken against those found to be dishonest during the inquiry.

"I also gave an application to the CPO and the former RPO took action against them. However, got posted in an area of his choice, utilising his connections. The police station's camera footage captured his car parked outside the station at night. It is important to note that the charges are fabricated, he added. Therefore, legal action should be taken against the policemen for misusing power, he said.

Conversely, The Express Tribune reached out to ASI Liaquat Niazi to obtain his stance on the allegations, but Liaquat Niazi affirmed the accuracy of the FIR. The accused's brother is a history-sheeter in gambling cases, whereas, about Asif Khan, he simply stated whether the accused himself ever confessed to the crime.

Despite multiple attempts, Sikandar Nawaz, could not be contacted.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2024.