BAHAWALNAGAR: On the orders of the Punjab Inspector General of Police Usman Anwer, Chishtian A Division police have registered a case against 57 suspects, including a deputy superintendent (DSP) and two station house officers (SHOs), allegedly for abducting a youth and his two sisters, looting the girls’ dowry and occupying their house.

The FIR registered on the complaint of one Asif of Taj Colony, Chishtian, says that several police officials, including DSP Gul Hassan, SHOs Saifullah Hanif and Abdul Ali, along with sub inspectors (SIs) Riaz Joiya and Abdul Wahab, raided the house of the complainant on Oct 14.

He said that during the raid, the police illegally arrested his son Junaid Asif, and his (complainant’s) two daughters.

He alleged that the police officials also took away precious dowry items of his daughters from the house.

Suspects also occupied house of complainant

The complainant said the police later released his daughters after he filed a writ petition in the court of law. However, the police kept Junaid in their custody at an unknown location.

During this period, he said, 40 to 45 people occupied the complainant’s house at the behest of the police officials.

The complainant said the police conducted the raid on his house to punish him for filing a complaint against them, resulting in registration of cases against some police officials.

Taking action on the complaint, the IGP ordered registration of cases against the suspects, including the police officials, involved in the matter.

COP DEMOTED: Faqirwali SHO has been demoted and placed under suspension for inefficiency and misconduct after he was proven guilty of indulgence in illegal practices in a departmental inquiry.

The action against SHO, SI Nawaz, was taken by DPO Bahawalnagar Naseeb Ullah Khan following critical observations made by the Regional Investigative Branch (RIB), Bahawalpur. He was demoted to the rank of ASI.

One Manzoor Ahmad of Chishtian had moved an application to the Bahawalpur RPO Office in March against these official.

The complainant alleged that during his posting as SHO Saddar Chishtian, SI Nawaz deliberately avoided taking action against his opponents, who took away his 17 cattle heads, along with dowry articles worth Rs20.4 million.

The RIB inquiry officer held SI Nawaz responsible for misconduct and inefficiency and recommended disciplinary action against him under Punjab Police (E&D) Rules 1975.

The official was again heard in person in the Orderly Room held on December 16 by Bahawalnagar DPO Naseeb Ullah, but he could not prove his innocence.

He was then awarded a major punishment of reduction in rank from SI to ASI for a period of one year on account of indulgence in illegal practices and abuse of official authority by the DPO.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2023