HARIPUR, Feb 26: Haripur police is patronizing criminals involved in drug trafficking and fake currency business in the city while cases are being registered against innocent citizens to show police efficiency.

Mohammad Riaz Khan Tareen, Nazim union council Rehana, expressed these views while speaking on a point of order in district council's session here on Thursday. The session was presided over by convener Mohammad Riaz Khan Jadoon.

Mr Tareen slammed the district police for what he called its failure to curb the menace of narcotics from the city. He said poor addicts with a small quantity were usually apprehended just to show police's performance but the main characters plying the trade were never taken to task.

Referring to a recent case registered against a coachman by TIP police on charges of possessing 1kg of hashish, Mr Tareen alleged that the police had in fact instituted the case on false charges against the poor man, who was the only breadwinner for his family.

He told the council that he was in possession of solid proofs against certain police personnel who were patronizing criminals allegedly involved in fake currency business.

The union Nazim said that pavement of streets and lining of water channels alone was not what they were supposed to do, but ensuring relief to the public and making departments subservient to them "is also our duty".

He also expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of district public safety commission. Saeed Abbasi, the Nazim of UC Shah Maqsood, lent his support to Riaz Khan. He accused the forest department Haripur of embezzlement to the tune of millions in the name of a forestation.

The forest department officials show new plantations on paper when in fact they do no such thing, he claimed. Qamar Zaman of UC Kotehra accused the education department Haripur of corruption and demanded a thorough inquiry into its financial affairs. Iqbal Chohan criticized the attitude of doctors towards patients at DHQ hospital Haripur.