LAHORE, Sept 22: A high-level inquiry conducted by a three-member police team regarding registration of a ‘false’ and ‘fabricated’ narcotics-cum-illegal arms case against a Sheikhupura-based iron merchant has ‘held’ a PML-N MNA ‘indirectly’ and two policemen ‘directly’ responsible and recommended action against them.

The departmental inquiry was initiated after Arif Ali Ramay of Sheikhupura, who is also a local PML-N politician, was detained by a police team led by Lower Mall investigation wing ASI Muhammad Mahboob on Aug 30 and booked for possessing 15 parcels of charas, two packets of opium weighing 1,400 grams and an unlicensed pistol.

The two policemen, including ASI Mahboob, were suspended from service and booked in the light of inquiry. The ASI however filed a writ petition against his suspension and the Lahore High Court reinstated both the officials on Sept 5.

According to the inquiry report (conducted on the orders of the provincial police chief), the case under Section 9C CNSA read with Section 13/20/65 of the Arms Ordinance was registered on the report of ASI Muhammad Mahboob who reported that he was present near Mughal Park when a jeep approached him. He stopped the vehicle and found narcotics from beneath the seat of driver Arif Ali Ramay and an unlicensed pistol with rounds. The investigation of the case was taken up by SI Abdul Ghafoor.

The inquiry team led by DIG (Headquarters) Muhammad Amlish recorded statements of six people from the accused side, including that of Ramay. It also recorded the accounts of nine policemen, including one head-constable, six constables, a driver constable and SI Ghafoor.

According to the accused party’s version, they were framed by PML-N MNA Javed Latif of Sheikhupura district with the help of Inspector Ali Ahmad Goraya and ASI Muhammad Mahboob. They claimed the narcotics and the weapon were foisted upon Ramay in a conspiracy.

FINDINGS: After hearing the two parties and study of official documents and cell phone data, the committee reached the following conclusion:

“On Aug 28, Arif Ali Ramay along with Muhammad Yousaf, a retired HC from police, was coming from Sheikhupura to Lahore to attend a case in the Anti-Terrorism Court by his jeep. On the way they picked up SI Muhammad Yaqoob of Sheikhupura A-Division. As they reached Lahore after crossing Saggian Bridge, they were stopped at a picket set up by ASI Mahboob of the Lower Mall investigation wing. They were let off when the police saw SI Yaqoob sitting in the vehicle.

“Again on Aug 30, Mr Ramay along with retired HC Yousaf, Qaisar Ashraf and Adnan Bashir was coming to Lahore to attend the court in the morning. They were stopped at a temporary picket set up by ASI Mahboob. His constables searched the vehicle and cleared it, but another search was ordered by the ASI. During the second search, two parcels of charas and one 30-bore unlicensed pistol were allegedly recovered from the vehicle by the ASI himself. The items were planted by the ASI at the behest of inspector Goraya, as confirmed by driver constable Fayyaz Ahmad,” says the police inquiry report.

“The jeep riders were boarded into a police investigation mobile driven by the ASI and they left for the police station. ASI Mahboob directed Fayyaz to drive the jeep and take it to the police station. Another constable Shahid Liaqat joined Fayyaz in the jeep and they began the journey towards the police station.

“On the way, Fayyaz received a call from his in-charge Goraya who asked Fayyaz if he was alone or not. Fayyaz replied in the negative.

Goraya asked the driver to drop constable Shahid on the road and reach a Gulshan-i-Ravi locality. Fayyaz complied.

Goraya brought a plastic bag containing narcotics to Fayyaz and it was placed near the spare tyre. Fayyaz then went to the police station after picking constable Shahid. A case was registered against Ramay on the application of ASI Mahboob, and SI Abdul Ghafoor was asked to investigate.

“The IO was reluctant to take up the case as he was leaving to attend a meeting, but inspector Goraya forced him to take the case and write a request for sending Ramay on judicial remand. He initially wrote the request for physical remand of the accused but the paper was torn by Goraya. Ultimately he wrote the request of judicial remand and left for the meeting.

“Ramay was sent to judicial remand. The matter came into the notice of senior officers who took prompt action and stopped further action by the inspector and the ASI.

“After recommendation of the board, the case was transferred and entrusted to City SP Investigation Rana Shujaat Ali vide the Lahore DIG Investigation’s order dated Aug 30. On Sept 3, in a writ petition ASI Mahboob vs IGP, Justice Syed Muhammad Kazim Raza Shamsi of the Lahore High Court suspended both the orders of the DIG Investigation and the notification of the suspension of the ASI,” says the report.

HISTORY: The report says the previous service record of inspector Goraya and ASI Mehboob obtained by the OSI branch of DIG Investigation Lahore showed that both of them witnessed dismissals from service and suspensions in the past.

“Arif Ali Ramay has a political background and is a well-to-do iron merchant. He had been on close terms with MNA Javed Latif, but their relations soured after some time. Mr Latif got Ramay nominated in an FIR (395 PPC) registered with the Sheikhupura A-Division police for which he was attending the ATC in Lahore. There is no previous enmity between inspector Goraya and Ramay nor previously there has been any adverse interaction between ASI Mehboob and Ramay. Retired head constable Yousaf and ASI Mehboob have served together.”

The report further says there has been a conspiracy to victimize Ramay which was hatched by inspector Goraya and others. “The yet-to-be-named others are main beneficiaries in this conspiracy.”

How it happened: “On Aug 28, inspector Goraya especially had this police picket set up to arrest Ramay on fabricated charges. This can be gleaned from the fact that the investigation wing was not supposed to set up operational pickets. Instead they were to investigate cases and carry out raids. The picket set up on Aug 28 was not recorded in any daily diary and was wound up as soon as Ramay and his accompanying friends had passed. ASI Mehboob was inclined to let them go when he found an SI in uniform as a passenger of the vehicle going to attend the same court.

“On Aug 30, Ramay was not so fortunate. Although retired HC Yousaf had accosted ASI Mehboob, still he undertook the task of planting narcotics and weapon according to conspiracy. In FIR, no mention was made of the accompanying passengers and Ramay alone was targeted. The passengers were detained till the time the matte came into the notice of senior officers and inquiry started,” the report adds.

It says the cell phone data showing the contacts and locations of inspector Goraya, ASI Mehboob, driver Fayyaz “all corroborate the presence of the conspiracy. There had been contacts between MNA Latif (0321-5777793) and Goraya (0345-8872222) on Aug 23. Further on Aug 28, Goraya and Mehboob (0300-9416077) were in contact since 7:27am establishing the picket where Ramay was to be arrested.

“On Aug 30, Goraya and Mehboob were in contact since 5:48am in the morning for the purpose of establishing picket. Goraya started calling driver Fayyaz at 7:50am to 8am. Goraya’s location was in Gulshan-i-Ravi which confirmed Fayyaz’s statement. Fayyaz’s location was also in Gulshan-i-Ravi at 7:58am where the narcotics were placed in Ramay’s vehicle.”

RECCOMENDATIONS: The inquiry says the case has already been referred for investigation. The DIG (Investigation) should personally supervise the subject case. The IO should look into the conspiracy and bring out names of all conspirators, which is only possible when inspector Goraya joins investigation.

“The car registered with Sheikhupura A-Division should also be referred to the board having jurisdiction to see whether Ramay has been victimized in it or not.

“The procurement of illegal narcotics and arms should be traced to find their source and supplier. A separate case may be registered, or the criminals may be charged in the already registered case at Lower Mall police station.

“The departmental action should be initiated against Mr Goraya and Mehboob and they should be awarded maximum punishment of dismissal from service after fulfilling formalities.”

Meanwhile, Dawn has learnt that the next hearing into the case is scheduled for Sept 25.

Inspector Goraya is currently posted in Bahawalpur range while ASI Mehboob, who is still posted in Lower Mall police station, is currently on medical leave. Ramay is in jail.