The uni(n)formed crime syndicate

Over the years, police personnel have gone from merely supporting criminals to becoming criminals themselves.

KARACHI: Senior officials of the Sindh Police have pledged to rid Karachi of all criminals and permanently restore law and order to it. Having set this grand target, they would, however, have to start with the department itself before moving on to the professional criminals.

In the past, police officials simply supported criminals or gave them safe passage in return for kickbacks. Recently however, they have upped their game a notch and have formed their own ‘organised gangs’.

“Picking up innocent citizens, detaining them illegally in police lockups for a day or two and then demanding exorbitant amounts for their release has become normal practice,” said a senior police official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “Police officials taking money from criminals to drop charges against them or taking bribes from people to arrest others was a normal practice at almost every police station,” he explained. “But the way some police personnel have started running their own gangs or their involvement in organised crime has shocked the department itself.”



A casual survey of the crime syndicates in the city shows that not only is the police involved in every racket — most of the crime syndicates would not be able to run without the connivance of police officials. Not only do these personnel make money from these mafias, several have their own criminal history. The only motivation they have in working with these syndicates from within the department is that they can make huge sums of money while under the protection of their ‘uniform’.

Only in September last year, over 100 police personnel were suspended for patronising gambling and narcotic dens. Shortly after, they were reinstated back to their posts. More recently, a list of police personnel involved in crimes have been sent to the Sindh IG, who is expected to take strict action against them.

“Why did the senior officials not dismiss them from service and send them to jail when they were found guilty?” questioned a DIG-rank police officer. “Their reappointment in the force has also raised doubts about the integrity of the senior officials.”

But this is not the first time police personnel have been caught out in this manner. Over the years, a number of personnel from the district police or the specialised units have been found to be involved in a range of criminal activities.

“It is good that the police are taking action against their own colleagues but if you look at the matter in detail, the policemen were arrested on complaints or when the issue was raised by the media,” said a senior police official. “What we must do is put the whole department under scrutiny and take action against all the black sheep. We must do this before we attempt to go after the criminals and terrorists in the city.”

For his part, the city police chief AIG Ghulam Qadir Thebo preferred to stick to the rhetoric. “We will not tolerate any criminals in the police department and will take strict action against them,” he said. “When we receive evidence against any officer, we penalise them according to the law.” AIG Thebo added that not only had they suspended officials and registered cases against them, some were even dismissed from service.

His colleague, Clifton SP Fida Hussain agreed. “I have dismissed eight police officers from service for their involvement in criminal activities,” said SP Hussain. “The punishment is meant to serve as deterrence for the other personnel.” He added that it was more a mindset problem than anything else. “Only around one or two per cent of the cops are involved in criminal activities. That does not mean the whole department is corrupt.”

POLICEMEN ARRESTED IN MAJOR CASES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS

December 20, 2014:

Five personnel of the Crime Branch were booked in a kidnapping for ransom case. ASI Sarfaraz, head Constable Athar Butt and three constables, Zameer, Abdul Latif and Shahid were accused of abducting Saleem by identifying themselves as officials of the Federal Investigation Agency.

December 11, 2014:

Five policemen of the Muhafiz Force deployed at the Hassan Square police headquarters were arrested red-handed while they were looting a citizen in SITE.

December 8, 2014:

Mobina Town police arrested ASI Kashif and his companion for robbing a house in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

December 4, 2014:

Two police constables, Arshad and Ansar posted to the Brigade police station were arrested for allegedly looting cash from citizens.

November 29, 2014:

Four personnel of the Defence police station were booked for extorting Rs22,000 from a citizen.

November 24, 2014:

Two police constables — Wasif Shabbir who was dismissed from service in 2004 and Raees Sarwar, who was posted to Saeedabad police station were arrested by District East police for their involvement in over 55 cases of street crimes.

November 14, 2014:

A police inspector posted to the Anti-Violent Crime Cell, Muhammad Urs, was arrested by Mithadar police over extortion charges.

October 24, 2014:

Three policemen — sub-inspector Hamza, Head Constable Mazhar and Ilyas — who were posted to Darakhshan police station and involved in a superstore heist in Defence were apprehended with the help of CCTV footage.

September 26, 2014:

Four policemen belonging to the Shaheed Force were arrested for allegedly taking bribes from citizens at Sea View.

April 30, 2014:

Gulshan-e-Maymar SHO Mir Samad was demoted and suspended over allegations of land grabbing and unprofessionalism. He was accused of booking and arresting 10 children, along with their families.

August 20, 2014:

Baloch Colony police arrested two police personnel, including a assistant sub inspector of the Anti-Car Lifting Cell, following the recovery of a priest from their captivity.

April 12, 2013:

The AVCC police arrested one of its own inspectors, Rana Ishrat for his alleged involvement in the murder of a police official.

April 11, 2013:

Three SHOs of Lyari were found to be involved in the abduction and murder of Arshad Pappu. SHO Kalri, Baghdadi and Kalakot

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2015.