RAWALPINDI: After a citizen accused R.A. Bazaar police officials of illegally detaining, torturing and extorting money from him, in addition to charging him with possessing alcohol, the city police officer (CPO) has directed the SSP investigation to inquire into the allegations.

A spokesman for the police said the CPO took notice of the complaint which was received two days ago. In addition, the SP Potohar and SDPO Cantt were also directed to investigate and submit their reports.

Shahroon Mehmood Masih, a resident of Mughalabad, lodged a complaint with the CPO, stating that he was sitting at his friend’s shop in Tench Bhatta on February 8, when Sub-inspector Sohail Bhatti and four unidentified personnel came there and forcibly took him to the R.A Bazaar police station.

He alleged that he was taken to a room on the second floor of the police station where the suspects started torturing him. He said he was made to stand up, raise his arms and a stick was tied in the middle.

“Due to severe pain, when I started screaming, they beat me up and asked me to hold my breath as some guests were sitting in the SHO’s room on the ground floor,” he alleged. He said he then fell unconscious and was given water to regain consciousness.

The complainant said that the officials placed three packets of charas on the table in front of him and started taking pictures. The officer, who called himself the SHO’s special man, made him hear his voice and said, “Sir, I am telling you to file a 9C case against him.” He said when he insisted, they started blackmailing him saying they had sent the drug photos to the officers. He said they demanded Rs500,000 from him; however, he transferred Rs50,000 into the account of the sub-inspector. After this, they asked him for more.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026