An incident involving police officers robbing passengers en route to the New Islamabad International Airport has come to light following the arrest of two police officials in Rawalpindi.
According to a complaint filed by a citizen, Zubair Ullah from Abbottabad, a police team including ASI Atif and Constable Zubair intercepted him and his passengers near Khattliyan.
The officers searched the passengers and took valuable mobile phones and two packets of sweets.
He said the officers then proceeded to handcuff the passengers and took them to a nearby forest, demanding a ransom of two hundred thousand rupees for their release.
"They threatened the victims and extorted fifty thousand rupees, which were withdrawn from an ATM at the airport. During this time, one of the officers also went inside the ATM booth with a passenger to ensure the money was given directly to him."
The complainant said the police officers locked the driver in a room, where Constable Zubair stood guard.
Later, the driver was released but found his mobile phone was also stolen. After a confrontation with the officers on May 2, the driver called the emergency number 15, and a police team arrived to intervene.
Following the police intervention, the accused officers, ASI Atif and Constable Zubair, were arrested.
The third suspect is still at large.
The Rawalpindi Chief Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani, has taken strict notice of the incident and ordered a full investigation, emphasising that any abuse of power or corruption within the police force would not be tolerated.
The arrested officers face charges under sections related to theft, wrongful confinement, and the police order.
CPO Khalid Hamdani further assured that action would be taken against the guilty officers both criminally and administratively.
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