LAHORE, July 10: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi directed his inspection team on Thursday to probe into alleged police highhandedness in Sheikhupura.

The directions were issued after the CM’s secretariat cell submitted a detailed report of the police highhandedness on complaint Mrs Zaman of Sheikhupura.

Mrs Zaman had reportedly lodged her complaint with the CM secretariat that her brother-in-law Muhammad Zahoor was murdered on June 20. Her husband Muhammad Zaman approached the police for proceeding into the case, but he was taken into custody for what the police had termed for interrogation, she said.

The woman alleged that she was dishonoured by Sheikhupura A-Division SHO Rana Riaz and other policemen when she tried to get her husband released. She said the police demanded Rs10,000 as bribe from her husband for his release and asked him to arrange another Rs50,000 if he wanted to be declared innocent in the case.

The CM’s complaint cell report says that its in charge, Additional Secretary Haji Malik Nawaz, along with his team visited the police station in the guise of relatives of the arrested man.

The team struck a deal with the police and paid Rs10,000 for the release of the arrested man. Haji Nawaz then summoned Sheikhupura SSP Nawaz Warraich on the spot and recovered the bribe money from the police in his presence.

The man was set free and policemen involved were suspended by the SSP. A probe was ordered and Sheikhupura police additional SP Rai Tahir was appointed as inquiry officer.

Mrs Zaman again approached the CM secretariat on Thursday and complained that the police started raiding her house and that of her relatives soon the CM team left Sheikhupura. She alleged that policemen threatened her of dire consequences if she did not withdraw her complaint. She was referred to the CM inspection team with the CM’s directions to probe into the matter and submit him a report at the earliest.

The CM called senior police officers on Thursday and reportedly expressed his concern over the increasing police highhandedness. He took strong notice of the incident and directed the officers to investigate the case and take the culprits to task. He further directed the officers to submit him a report within two days. Sheikhupura police chief Nawaz Warraich was not available for comments