Rescue officials: Suspended for ‘trying to steal from rescued’

Too early to jump to conclusions, says DG.

LAHORE:

The Rescue-1122 director general suspended two officials from service on Wednesday after they were accused of stealing Rs8 million from a man they were taking to Mayo Hospital.

Saleem and Ehsaan were in Lahore on a business trip to exchange foreign currency for rupees. They were carrying cash in money belts around their waist while waiting to catch a bus at Rahbar Bus Stand on Bund Road. When an unidentified person shot them from behind and allegedly took away Rs11 million.

Rescue-1122 reached the spot and took the injured to Mayo Hospital. Saleem, 27, died on the way to the hospital. Ehsaan, 30, injured in the arm, handed them Rs12 million before he fainted on the way to the hospital. When he recovered consciousness, he told police he had given the money to the Rescue officials.

Nawankot SHO Muhammad Waseem said the Rescue officials gave the police Rs4 million and denied possession of anther belt containing Rs8 million. That belt was later found in the vehicle used to transport Ehsaan and Saleem to the hospital, he said.
Nawankot circle DSP Jameel Baig said, “The rescuers produced the money after they were threatened with dire consequences if found guilty.”
However, Operations SP Syed Tauseef Haider said, “The rescuers had handed over the entire amount without any attempt to hide any of it. The allegations against them are baseless.”

Jam Sajjad, the Rescue spokesman, said, “Legal action will be taken against the officials if they are found guilty.”
Rescue Services director general Dr Rizwan Naseer later suspended the two officials. He said, “Such elements will not be tolerated. If found guilty, they will be punished.”

He also said, however, that it was too early to jump to conclusions.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2013.