“I am Zoroastrian and I bought a wine bottle from a dealer in Firdous Market after showing him my permit. Two police officials named Munawar and Raheel chased me and my husband in Defence, took our wine bottle and Rs 3,000 from us. Why?” a woman asking not be named asks Pakistan Today.
The complaints of people against policemen holding them and seizing liquor despite showing the purchase permit issued to non Muslim minorities of country has increased manifolds in the recent days.
In some the cases, complainants have also approached the police high ups to look into the matter but most incidences have gone unreported. Police officials have admitted that this problem exists and have asked the people to complain so that necessary action can be taken.
Factory Area Station House Officer Police Station Attique Dogar, when contacted for comment on phone, admitted that such incidents could not totally be ruled out and policemen might have been involved in such activities but he suggested whoever has the grievance must visit him in Factory Area police station.
In another incident, two policemen recovered a liquor bottle from possession of a Christian boy near Main Market, Gulberg. They, without showing their identity, demanded of the boy to pay them Rs 5,000 or they would take him to the police station. However, when the boy showed them his identity of being Christian, they still took his wine bottle.
The modus operandi of such policemen is that they prey in a group of two or three and force bootleggers to inform them about buyers who can be potential target. Once the customer comes out of the shop they chase them to a suitable point where negotiations can be easy. An average citizen especially one sitting with a female would never refuse accepting the demand of policemen and hence the bottle with money will go with the cops instead of buyers.
Cantt Division Superintendent Police Hashmat Kamal also admitted to Pakistan Today that there have been such cases and police would take action if citizens complain. He said eight constables were reported to be involved in blackmailing the citizens and an action had been taken against them, adding that two of them were also dismissed.
