BAHAWALPUR: ‘Victimised’ by his immediate boss, a policeman’s approach to use social media to present his case paid off as the district police acknowledge his ‘honesty’ and released his withheld salary with cash award.

Constable Mahboob Ahmed’s trouble started some months ago because his colleagues and boss (SHO) at the Samasatta police station were sick of his ‘sermons’ against corrupt practices in the department.

Police sources said when Mahboob reached his place of duty an hour late, the SHO marked him absent without intimation and got his salary withheld. Pay denial led the complainant, his wife and a suckling to starvation.

Through social media, Mahboob prayed to the prime minister, Punjab IGP, Bahawalpur RPO and then DPO Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera to transfer him to the district police lines since he was the most unwanted at the police station.

DPO honours his ‘honesty’

According to police spokesman Umar Saleem, new DPO Faisal Kamran paid heed to his appeal and visited his residence on Friday.

The DPO not only encouraged him for his just stand against corruption but also paid him Rs20,000 cash award beside ordering release of his withheld dues.

“Police cannot ignore such honest employees,” the DPO was quoted as saying.

On the persistent request of Mahboob, the DPO transferred him to the police lines.

Meanwhile, the DPO has issued orders to his subordinates that investigation into cases of violence against women and child abuse pending in the district be expedited. In his order, the DPO asked the officials to complete the investigation immediately in the presence of complainants and women police and ensure that proper sections against the accused were inserted in the FIRs so that the culprits were not spared by the courts.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2021