LAHORE, March 11: Civil Lines police claim to have arrested a man along with his two accomplices for impersonating a minister or assembly member and getting policemen transferred on his telephonic ‘orders’.

According to police, during interrogation the suspects confessed receiving heavy bribes and getting more than 20 policemen transferred to various police stations and offices through telephonic impersonation.

According to a police handout issued here on Monday, accused Asim Aslam impersonating a minister or MPA of a major political party would phone senior police officers asking them for the transfer of their subordinates after receiving bribe from those wanting to grab desired posts.

In his latest attempt, Asim phoned SSP (Administration) Tariq Abbas Qurashi, posing as MPA Hassamuddin Khosa and asked for transfer of Sub-Inspector Muhammad Rafiq. However, the SSP got suspicious and directed his PSO SI Ghafoor Niazi to make some checks.

On probing into the matter, the network was exposed and a case was registered against the fraudsters under Telegraph Act.

The Civil Lines police investigation in charge arrested Asim Aslam and his two accomplices -- Shahzad Ilyas Ghumman and Binyameen, a junior clerk and a peon, respectively, at the CCPO’s office.

The fraudsters would share the amount received in bribe after a successful ‘operation’, the police said.

Asim’s accomplices used to provide him telephone number of the concerned police officer.

CCPO Amjad Javed Saleemi has announced cash and certificates for SI Ghafoor Niazi and the Civil Lines in-charge investigation.