Corrupt policemen pilfering valuables from ‘Maal Khanas’

Rawalpindi

Besides involvement of police personnel in criminal activities, they are now benefitting from the recovered valuables, kept in the ‘Maal Khana’ of police stations, by gradually selling these in the market or to individuals.

People lodge complaints every day with the concerned authorities against police officials, but receive a cold response from them. This attitude towards people’s complaints against guardians of law of the land encourages the ‘criminal’ cops, widening the gulf between public and police.

As an example, a poor taxi driver, Mohammad Ejaz, son of Mohammad Riaz, resident of Amarpura, Rawalpindi, lodged a complaint with the city police officer (CPO), Rawalpindi, saying that his taxicab, bearing registration number IDE-6823, was stolen from the jurisdiction of the Industrial Area Police Station on October 12, 2012. He lodged a complaint with the police station. The cab was recovered after a few days by the Banni Police Station. Though he got his taxi back through court orders, but its CNG kit and cylinder were missing, Ejaz said in his application. He added that as he contacted the Banni Police Station for asking about his CNG kit and cylinder, the concerned officials refused to own responsibility for the missing equipment. When he met with Maal Khana Muharrar Amjad Hussain, he, taking the complainant into confidence, said that a set of gas kit and cylinder was present in the Maal Khana and he could provide it to him against Rs17,000.

The complainant said that he could not confirm whether it was the same kit, which was stolen from his taxicab, or it was any other kit. However, after bargaining, he paid Rs10,000 to the cop, who promised to hand over the kit the next day, but he didn’t fulfil his promise and started avoiding him.

The poor cabby said that he later informed the notables of his locality who went with him to the police station to meet the Banni Police Station SHO, but he, instead of resolving the issue, referred the case to another official, saying that the cop was a corrupt official and he has received many complaints against him.

The CPO, Rawalpindi, taking action on the complaint, referred the case to the Waris Khan Circle DSP who passed the complainant again to the Banni Police Station SHO. Finally, the case was handed over to the investigation officer who had already tried to hush up the case, using delaying tactics for initiating the investigation.

Interestingly, the accused cop is still working as the ‘Maal Khana’ muharrar.

This correspondent tried to contact the accused cop, Amjad Hussain, on his three mobile numbers to know his version but got no response. His two mobile phone numbers were closed.

Posted in: Islamabad