Confusion reigns over alcohol, hashish notification

IGP claims it has been withdrawn, was issued by clerical staff without his knowledge.

ISLAMABAD:

Justice may be blind, but cops clearly are not, as they are often well aware of when to take a step back to avoid stepping on the toes of the high and mighty.

Pakistan’s prohibition laws — introduced in 1977 by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and later amended by General Ziaul Haq under The Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order — bars Muslims from purchasing, possessing, or consuming alcohol except for medical reasons.

But in practice, the law is only applied to the poor, as most wealthy persons unlucky enough to be caught can pay their way out at checkposts. This has led to rampant corruption among police officials manning check posts, as they try to squeeze those caught with such contraband, regardless of the amount.

On December 18 last year, the office of the inspector general of the Islamabad Police “mistakenly” issued a letter directing officials to look the other way if anyone was caught with one bottle of liquor or small quantities of hashish.

Under the notification, for the last three months, one bottle of liquor or a few joints worth of hashish had essentially been decriminalised, with police sources saying it was also meant to shift focus on curbing heinous crimes and terrorism.

“Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tahir Alam Khan has directed to avoid registration of cases against drug peddlers of one bottle of a liquor and charas (hashish),” stated a letter ostensibly issued by Khan on December 18, 2014.

The Express Tribune when contacted the IGP on Monday, he claimed that the letter has been ‘withdrawn’ as it had been issued by his staff without bringing it to his notice. When asked what action he has taken against the staffers responsible, the IGP claimed that an inquiry was initiated against them, but it was still incomplete. “Inquiries against clerical staff take time. I hope it will be completed soon,” he said.

Copies of the letter, available with The Express Tribune, suggest that the order was not welcomed by some officials. A handwritten dissent note by then Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Asmatullah Junejo states, “This is an illegal order so it can’t be implemented”.

Junejo was suspended in January this year for allegedly showing leniency in registering cases against a local leader of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat.

Sources in the police said that on December 16, the IGP chaired a high level meeting where he gave directions to the officers to avoid registration of cases where the amount of contraband was within a personal consumption range, with a one bottle limit for alcohol and no specification for hashish.

“During the meeting, the IGP told his subordinates that influential people were living in the capital and he could not afford to be unnecessarily pressurised by them when they had ‘difficult’ interactions at checkposts while in possession of liquor,” sources said while quoting the IGP.

The sources said that the pressure at the time came from the talk show host was caught stopped with alcohol in his possession.

Another police official, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune that the police chief could not issue such a blanket order. The official said that the prohibition law was clear and the police were bound to book drug peddlers. “An IGP cannot issue such orders under his discretionary powers,” the official replied to a question.

Separately, the letter also hints at rampant corruption in the police department, especially among officials deployed at check posts. “Vehicles are being stopped by the officials deployed at check post on the pretext of security checking, but they actually stop the vehicles for their ulterior motives,” stated the letter, hinting at police officials taking bribes to let those in possession of contraband off-the-hook.

The letter moves on to direct officials to concentrate on major crimes such as theft, illegal sale and purchase of arms and ammunition, and large-scale drug movement or dealing.

It further directs officials to deal with the public “politely, sympathetically and without any [making] any illegal demands”.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2015.