Pindi cops accused of torture, extortion
A new case of alleged police brutality has recently surfaced in Rawalpindi, where a citizen was reportedly abducted, held in a private torture cell and was subjected to physical abuse and extortion.
Following a complaint submitted to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Khalid Hamdani took swift action. An inquiry was initiated, and after identifying the involved police personnel, a case was registered under sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) related to extortion and the Police Order 2002.
According to police, Farooq Khan, a resident of Rawalpindi, filed a written complaint to the provincial chief executive that on March 19 during the holy month of Ramazan, he was stopped at Pirwadhai Mor by two uniformed police officers for ID verification. Shortly afterward, three plainclothes officers arrived and forced him off his vehicle, telling him he was being taken to the police station. The complainant was instead seated on a motorcycle and taken to the Pirwadhai Bus Stand. There, he was transferred into a car and driven around Raja Bazaar Road for about an hour while the officers repeatedly demanded money.
Later, he was taken to a private torture cell located on the second floor of an unknown building, where another individual named Ghulam Abbas was also being held. Farooq Khan alleges he was handcuffed, tortured all night, and threatened with false charges unless he paid a ransom of Rs2 million.
On March 20, he was allowed to call home to arrange the money. After iftar, the officers allegedly collected Rs400,000, released him at Mandi Mor, and kept his vehicle registration book and a guarantee for an additional Rs100,000.
The victim said that the police acted like outlaws from remote tribal regions. He alleged that such officers regularly detain civilians in private cells instead of legal detention centres and keep them imprisoned for days until their demands are met.
Farooq Khan also sent his complaint to the Inspector General of Punjab Police, DIG Special Branch, and the Rawalpindi RPO. Acting on the report, the CPO ordered a case to be filed against Head Constable Rizwan and Constable Mehran.