Apprehended: Favour-seeking ‘judge’ arrested

Fraudster claiming to be judge would request ‘favours’ from women for favourable judgements.

RAWALPINDI:

The police on Tuesday arrested a man on charges of blackmailing women visiting the lower courts of Rawalpindi.

The suspect, identified as Basharat Mehmood, a resident of Jhang, was allegedly running a brothel in Wah Cantonment.

During interrogation, he confessed to the crime and has now been sent on judicial remand. The suspect named a number of influential persons from the city with whose connivance he would call women.

The police were hopeful that he would also name his accomplices, which they believe include members of the police and the lower judiciary of Rawalpindi.

On April 28, a woman informed her lawyer about a call she received from someone claiming to be a judge. The caller offered to ensure a favourable judgement in her case if she agreed to meet him.

The issue was brought to the notice of former Rawalpindi District Bar Association general secretary Saeed Yousaf, who filed a complaint with the district bar president. The DBA president raided the police post at the entrance of the district courts and found a register full of women’s phone numbers. He informed a sessions judge who ordered an investigation.

Meanwhile, the suspect called Sub-Inspector Owais, a member of the investigation team, and verbally abused him. The police officer promptly traced the call and arrested Basharat.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2014.