ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: The federal interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, on Saturday, said some officials of the capital police had links with terrorists and car-lifters.

Addressing a press conference at the interior ministry, Chaudhry Nisar disclosed the links and asked the inspector general of police (IGP) and the chief commissioner to rid the force of these corrupt elements.

“I have tasked the IGP and the chief commissioner to cleanse the police department of such officials within two weeks,” he said.

Furthermore, the minister said he had directed the police to seek assistance from the intelligence agencies in identifying the corrupt elements within police ranks.

When contacted, IGP Sikandar Hayat said the interior minister had issued these directions in a meeting which was held after receiving information that a few police officials had links with criminal gangs.

He said the association between some police officials and car-lifters or criminal gangs had already been established.

“However, links of policemen with terrorists are yet to be established,” he added.

The IGP said over 90 corrupt officials, including deputy superintendents of police (DSPs), inspectors and sub-inspectors had already been sidelined and action had been initiated against them.

According to Mr Hayat, policemen who had links with auto-thieves and criminals gangs had been identified and criminal cases would be registered against them.

He added that the connections had been established with the help of the officials’ mobile records.

Furthermore, he said an accountability cell, under the supervision of the assistant inspector general of police, was working on identifying the corrupt elements.

Sources in the police department said surveillance was carried out in September during which a number of personnel were found involved in criminal activities.

Majority of the policemen, ranging from the ranks of constables to SPs, was transferred from their posts.

According to the sources, only two incidents have occurred in which terrorist links with the capital police had been alleged.

The suicide bomber who was killed by a guard in a failed attack at Ali Masjid in Bhara Kahu during Friday congregations in August was the brother of a constable deployed at the security wing of the capital police.

Similarly, a constable of the Diplomatic Protection Department was picked up in 2011 in connection with the assassination of federal minister Shahbaz Bhatti.

The Faisalabad police had arrested a man who had planted explosives in a car, and while examining his mobile phone, found the number of the constable.

When the Shahbaz Bhatti incident took place, the same constable was interrogated on suspicion of having links with terrorists.

However, both police officials were declared innocent after investigation.

On the other hand, a number of policemen were involved in car-lifting and their connection with auto-thieves has been confirmed, the police sources added.

They said in the past nine years, the Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) had been disbanded twice after its links with car-lifters were established.

In May 2011, seven sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors were suspended and almost 80 other policemen in the ACLC were served show-cause notices for their alleged corruption.

The then SSP, Tahir Alam Khan, suspended the SIs and ASIs and issued show-cause notices to others including the DSP.

During the inquiry, investigators found the accused patronising car-lifting gangs, the sources claimed.

They said in September 2011, four officials of the ACLC were suspended on the directions of the then IGP, Bani Amin Khan for their alleged involvement in patronising auto-thieves.

Action against them was taken after two auto-thieves, during investigation, disclosed the names of several policemen who were either patronising car-lifters or helping them in stealing vehicles.