BAHAWALPUR: Lodhran district police officer has suspended three of his subordinates, including a station house officer (SHO), for receiving bribe and committing misconduct in case involving smuggling of foreign brand cigarettes.

According to district police spokesperson, SHO Muzamil Hussain, ASI Zafar Dost and Head Constable Tauqeer of Lodhran city police station seized a truck laden with 300 crates of smuggled cigarettes worth Rs190 million.

These police officials detained the truck driver and the smugglers in the lockup for five hours and later released them allegedly after receiving Rs1 million bribe, besides stealing seven cartes of costly cigarettes worth Rs 0.45m.

After being released, the alleged smugglers filed complaints with Multan RPO about the bribe and stolen cigarettes.

The RPO ordered an inquiry into the complaint, appointing Kahrorepucca DSP Rizwan Khan as inquiry officer. In his initial inquiry report, the DSP held the accused police officials of Lodhran police station guilty.

In the light of the inquiry report, Lodhran DPO Hissam Bin Iqbal suspended the three officials and ordered further process for their dismissal from service.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2023