SHO sacked for torturing ex-cop

Multan RPO's lenient punishment overruled

BUREWALA:

South Punjab Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Muhammad Kamran Khan on Monday imposed the penalty of dismissal from service on a sub-inspector for torturing a retired inspector and his son and implicating them in false cases while serving as the SHO of Vehari Saddar police station last year.

Retired DSP Tanveer Ahmed Bhatti had filed a complaint alleging that his brother, retired inspector Zaheer Ahmed and his son Rawal Zaheer had been called to the police station for investigation. During their visit, the then SHO, Rauf Iqbal, misbehaved and assaulted them, damaged their car, seized their mobile phones, unlawfully detained and handcuffed them, and falsely implicated them in three cases on serious charges.

An inquiry conducted by the Multan regional police officer (RPO) found that the accused could not have committed the offences as they were already in police custody on the day. It was also noted that firearms had been mentioned in the FIR to strengthen sections 392 and 506-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The officer failed to produce the mobile phone containing video evidence, and DVR footage of the police station was not provided, raising concerns of concealment of proof.

The RPO had earlier found the SHO guilty and imposed a penalty of pay reduction by one stage for two years on December 10.