Cops making easy money out of ban on kite-flying

• CPO expresses ignorance as many cops found involved in selling confiscated kites, strings

The ban on the kite-flying festival (Basant) by the Punjab government has become a source of minting money for police personnel in the Rawalpindi district, Pakistan Today has learnt.

According to informed official sources, many police personnel have been found involved in selling confiscated kites back to citizens to earn bucks these days. They said that the city administration could not succeed in implementing the ban efficiently, since it was being used by police personnel as an opportunity to earn “easy money”.

Despite Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Ahmed Abbasi’s strict warning and the suspension of a police officer a few days ago, the practice of selling confiscated kites by police officials continues unabated.

Ayaz Gujjar, a resident of Satellite Town, told this scribe that through his friends, he had met with police officials who were involved in selling confiscated kites and strings at throwaway prices to citizens. He said he was in close contact with these police officials and had even bought kites and strings from them for other citizens as well.

Gujjar said that several times police confiscated his kites, but nothing could stop him from kite-flying, adding that he was very disappointed about the government’s decision of banning the activity in the province.

Shahid Abbasi, a resident of Dhoke Kala Khan area, said if the government was really sincere in implementing the kite-flying ban, then instead of deploying drone cameras it should keep a check on “corrupt” police officials. He said such police officials had been quite happy with the ban, since it had provided them with an opportunity to mint money.

Nevertheless, the citizens are upset over the use of drone cameras for effective implementation of the ban on kite-flying. They argue that these drones are violating their privacy and demand their use be stopped forthwith. The citizens also say that the police should crackdown on those selling kites instead of those flying them.

When contacted CPO Israr Ahmed Abbasi said he had no specific information on police officials indulged in selling confiscated kites and strings, adding that he did not believe in hearsay.