GUJAR KHAN: As robberies and other crimes continued unabated, subdivisional police officer (SDPO) Gujar Khan Malik Anwar was replaced with Mirza Zaman Raza.

On the other hand, five police officials, including the former SHO Gujar Khan Malik Akbar Abbas and sub-inspector Chaudhry Arshad, who were booked for negligence after the escape of a proclaimed offender were granted bail.

They were arrested last week after area magistrate Waseem Sajjad rejected their pre-arrest bail.

The proclaimed offender, Jawaid alias Jaidu, carried a head money of Rs500,000 fixed by the Punjab government.

Sources said the Rawalpindi-based superintendent of police, rural division, did not even bother to visit Gujar Khan even when the residents lost their lives and properties in the hands of robbers or other criminals.

Even after the escape of the proclaimed offender, no senior police officer visited the area.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2014