RAWALPINDI: The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) has ordered a top-level investigation after a scam of over 140 bogus challans came to light leading to the removal of seven senior officers, including two superintendents.

The NHMP has constituted the high-level inquiry team, led by the additional inspector general of police central and assisted by two deputy inspectors general of police, an official of Punjab IT Board and others to fix responsibility.

“All of the police officials, ranking from sub-inspector to SP level of N-5 South Zone, have been changed and we are assessing who else was involved in issuing 142 offline tickets in Sindh side,” said a senior police official.

He said according to the IT challan procedure, a text message (SMS) is received on the cell phone of the offender, but in the recent past complaints had been received that people issued tickets were not receiving text messages after being issued tickets.

Seven senior police officers, including two superintendents, of N-5 South Zone removed, says spokesman

Initially, 14 such cases were reported but after an inquiry it emerged that there were about 142 such complaints, which led to the initiation of the inquiry, he said. After an initial inquiry, it transpired that some people were issued offline fine tickets.

“We have been looking for anyone involved in this illegal activity, but all sector officials have been fired, and an investigation has been started,” he stated.

According to official sources, the police officers who were directed to report to the Police Lines Headquarters were: SP Arif Shahzad, SP Zahid Nazeer, DSPs Naeemullah Sheikh, Khalid Mehmood Nawaz, Zubair Anwar Soomro, Shaukat Ali Bhatti and Khawar Moeen. All the seven police officers were relieved from their duties with immediate effect.

A spokesman said the NHMP was a corruption-free organisation and a unique honour in law enforcement agencies.

The motorway police have an integrated system of accountability and vigilance under which there is no room for any kind of malfeasance and corruption.

He said the motorway police had received complaints regarding corruption in some areas of South Zone. Its Special Vigilance Cell took immediate action and submitted a report to the inspector general who formed a high-level investigation committee. All elements found involved in corruption will be punished and brought to justice, he said.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2023