IG orders probe into complaints against 8 police officers

Civil Lines SP, the Mujahid Squad SP and the Gulshan-i-Ravi DSP and SHO ordered to address the citizens’ complaints.

LAHORE: Tariq Saleem Dogar, the inspector general (IG) of Punjab Police, ordered departmental inquiries into allegations against eight officers including a superintendent of police (SP) at an open court on Monday.

The IG had summoned several officers, including the Civil Lines SP, the Mujahid Squad SP and the Gulshan-i-Ravi deputy superintendent (DSP) and station house officer (SHO), to the open court at his office to answer citizens’ complaints about the police. He also handled some complaints over the phone.

Shabbir Ahmed, a citizen from Multan, said in his complaint that SP Karamatullah and SHO Rana Zaheer of Multan had registered false cases against him in collusion with his business rivals. The IG ordered the Multan city police officer (CPO) to conduct an inquiry into the complaint as soon as possible and report the findings to him.

Razia Sharif, a Lahore resident, said she had filed a complaint at the Bhati police station against Inspector Sardar. Despite having registered her petition, the police had not arrested the man. She said the officer was harassing her and threatening her with dire consequences unless she stopped pursuing the case. The IG ordered the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) to hold a departmental inquiry into the charges and take appropriate action against the officer.

Umair Ashraf of Sargodha alleged that SHO Muhammad Asif and Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Muhammad Afzal had illegally disposed of his case against men who were threatening to kill his family. The IG ordered the district police officer concerned to hold a prompt inquiry and take appropriate action if the accused officers were found guilty.

Naved Muhammad of Faisalabad alleged that Ghulam Muhammadabad SHO Muhammad Akram had registered a baseless case against him. The IG ordered the Faisalabad CPO to hold an inquiry within five days and send him his findings.

Sohail Nasir of Lahore accused ASI Riaz of protecting the accused in an FIR for theft. He said the stolen goods were still to be recovered. The IG ordered the SP (Investigation) to personally investigate the case.

Abdul Hameed accused City Raiwind investigators of taking bribes from him to arrest the people nominated in an FIR, and still not arresting them. The IG ordered the Sadar Division SP (Investigation) to hold an inquiry and report his findings.

The Civil Lines SP, the Mujahid Squad SP and the Gulshan-i-Ravi DSP and SHO were ordered to address the citizens’ complaints and report compliance within two days.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2010.