KARACHI, Nov 9: Pakistan Qaumi Razakar (PQR) which are a volunteer force and are supposed to supplement and assist the regular police force in cases of emergencies, are also allegedly indulging in extortion.

They have joined the extortion spree with the regular police force, and are allegedly extorting money in the name of eidee.

The PQR men are seen conducting snap checking, especially during nights in several city areas, including Gulshan-i-Iqbal, from where a majority of complaints were received.

Though common people cannot identify the PQR from the rest of the police force as they are clad in the same uniform, their immaculate vehicles of latest models, fitted with hooters and revolving lights, is one of the distinguished features.

Motorists passing through main Rashid Minhas Road near Asia Pacific Centre are encountering snap checking by the PQR personnel off and on.

Blocking almost the entire main road and causing traffic jam on an almost overcrowded road, the PQR personnel are quite rude in carrying out searches, remarked a motorist.

They are just adding miseries to the people by carrying out their snap checking and asking for eidee", said Ali Jauhar.

"People are already suffering owing to police highhandedness, the PQR men have also joined the race", remarked Ithesham Pasha, a resident of Gulshan-i-Iqbal.

Recalling his Monday night's experience, Mr Pasha said he was passing through Gulistan-i-Jauhar and going towards the Jauhar Chowrangi when he encountered a police cordon near Noman Grand City.

They had blocked the entire main road and were conducting snap checking in a most unusual manner.

"I was surprised to see the latest models cars, fitted with revolving blue-lights and sirens. Surprisingly all the private cars had tainted glasses.

"I was fortunate enough to pass through the snap checking without paying any eidee", Mr Pasha added.

Another resident of Gulshan said similar brand new vehicles were also seen last year busy in snap checking in Gulshan-i- Iqbal.

A senior police officer was of the view that the PQR personnel cannot carry out such a solo show "by themselves".

"By law they can only accompany policemen and cannot act alone."

On average, 150 to 200 personnel of the PQR are active in the each town of the city. They are not involved in law- enforcement, but were rather violating it, remarked another police official.

A town police officer, requesting anonymity, admitted that he does not know as to how many PQR personnel are active in his town, adding, they become active in "Eid season" to show and earn through their nuisances value.

"It is unfortunate that even the concerned TPOs don't know as to how many agencies or personnel of different law-enforcement agencies are at work in their towns, in other words minting money."

A senior police official, requesting anonymity, said that often people complain of being robbed by dacoits in police uniforms, actually they are the PQR men who indulge in these illegal activities.

Personnel of the Police Foundation are also found involved in such unlawful activities, the police official remarked.

For a common citizen, it is very difficult to distinguish between an ordinary police personnel and the PQR. Often their shoulder batch read police and then QR.

In most cases, they don't bother to go for Qaumi Razakar, and they simply identify themselves as police, sources in the police department said.