ISLAMABAD: Two Islamabad police officials were arrested in different parts of the country for their alleged involvement in narcotics smuggling, police officials told Dawn on Wednesday.

Both were constables in the capital police, and were arrested by Lahore and Hawailian police on Saturday and Tuesday, respectively. Officials said the constables were deployed at Police Lines Headquarters in Islamabad and were performing prison duties – transporting under trial prisoners from jail to the district and sessions court for hearing, they added.

On the condition of anonymity, a police official told Dawn that the constables were found to be absent from the place of duty on Saturday and Tuesday morning, when contigents of police deployed for prison duty were ready to leave for Adiala Jail from the headquarters at 6am.

He said on Saturday Lahore police, and on Tuesday Hawailian police, approached Islamabad police and informed them of the arrest of their personnel.

One of the officials left for Lahore after performing his duties on Friday, and was arrested while allegedly transporting narcotics. The official said the other constable was arrested in Hawailian in much the same way after performing duties in Islamabad on Monday.

One of the constables, arrested by Lahore police, was captured with 3 kilograms of opium and 5 kilograms of hashish, while the other – arrested by Hawailian police – was carrying 4.8kilograms powder, a colloquial name for heroin.

Both were booked under Control of Narcotics Substance Act’s Section 9-C. The official said that details were being sought from the police officials who arrested the two suspects. Both the constables were suspended and separate reports against them have been made. The official said the reports were sent to a senior police official for disciplinary action, which may include dismissal from the force.

He added that Lahore and Hawailian police will proceed against them for their alleged involvement in smuggling narcotics.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2016