I TRAVELLED in Green Line from Hyderabad to Margalla on March 3, while believing it to be a customer-friendly train due to its tag of being a premium service. I was astonished to experience extremely pathetic policing by the personnel of Railway Police deputed on the journey beyond Lahore.

The two policemen were disturbing passengers all the way up to the Margalla Railway Station. Most of the male passengers in air-conditioned standard class faced their unprofessional attitude of sudden checking of baggage during travelling, and had to undergo personal checking in a rather disgraceful manner.

When the train was at the Rawalpindi Railway Station, one of the policemen tried to unbox the cakes that I was carrying as gift all the way from Hyderabad. When I returned to my seat, I saw the policeman busy with my luggage. When I asked him what was going on, he got irked, and warned me that he could take my baggage into custody without needing a reason to do such a thing.

The authorities concerned should take urgent notice of such policing behaviour in Pakistan’s premium train as it is an extremely unethical and unlawful practice. Every citizen deserves respect.

Salar Lateef
Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2024