FAISALABAD: Six policemen, including a former station house officer (SHO) of Mamukanjan with the connivance of a superintendent of police (SP), allegedly implicated a man in a fake narcotics case by planting drugs on him.

The man, Irfan, has been in jail for more than six months without having committed a crime. The policemen were found guilty in an inquiry conducted by Samundri Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nasir Nawaz on the directions of the Lahore High Court. Irfan’s family had moved court for his release.

In the inquiry report published a few days ago and a copy of which is available with Dawn, the officer recommended legal action against six policemen and that the role of Saddar SP Rao Naeem Shahid be determined by grilling the six suspect cops.

During the probe, DSP Nawaz found that former SHO Zeeshan Randhawa, sub-inspector Aslam Sabri, assistant sub-inspector Riasat, constables Zakaria, Aamir Akram and Abdullah had implicated Irfan in a fake drugs case with the connivance of his rivals.

Irfan has been behind bars for six months without committing a crime, the officer admitted, directing the Mamukanjan SHO to get the case discharged and interrogate the suspect policemen to know who had provided the narcotics to plant on Irfan and who was responsible for the entire episode.

He also mentioned in the inquiry that the policemen should be interrogated to ascertain the role of SP Shahid and two others -- Shahid and Kamran Rasool. He also suggested exemplary punishment for the policemen who had implicated an innocent person in a fake case.

Meanwhile, Randhawa along with his father Khalid, former Gulberg SHO Naeem Adil, and others is in the custody of Civil Lines police on charges of abducting a man and releasing him after receiving bribe of Rs600,000. They are on physical remand and would be produced before the court on Feb 12.

The case was instituted against them following an inquiry conducted by City Police Officer (CPO) Sohail Chaudhry. The CPO said justice would be done come what may and the entire force had been asked to refrain from illegal practices.

He said a couple of days ago two policemen deployed at the establishment branch had been booked and put behind bars for receiving bribes from fellow policemen against transfers/postings.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2020