KARACHI, Nov 7: Police have accelerated the pace of extorting money from innocent people all over the city as the Eid festival is approaching fast, and their indulgence in such practices is further limiting their capacity to maintain law and order in the city.
The motorcyclists are the main target of the district as well as the traffic police extortions. The traffic police's drive to lift motorcycles from the so-called no-parking zones has gained momentum, especially in Saddar which attracts considerable crowds during the last 15 days of Ramazan. These 'no-parking zones' include Tariq Road, Jama Cloth Market, Hyderi Market, Clifton, etc.
The traffic police lift motorcycles from these zones and take them to the relevant traffic police post. Then they impose excessive fine on motorcyclists which vary from Rs150 to Rs300.
An affected motorcyclist, Kamran, said that he went to Zainab Market and parked his motorcycle on Abdullah Haroon Road. "I asked a traffic policeman, who was standing at the place, that should I park here. He told me "yes". When I returned after shopping, I found my motorbike missing."
Kamran said he went to a traffic police check post where his motorcycle was present. "I told them that I had consulted a traffic cop and then I parked my motorbike there, but they imposed a fine of Rs150, saying that they picked up my motorbike from no-parking zone," he added, claiming that there was no no-parking sign where he parked his motorcycle. He maintained that the traffic police official who was on duty should have barred me from parking my motorbike but he never did so.
Similarly, the district police are present at various intersections and roads in the city to check motorcyclists. They usually stop them and asked them about relevant papers and licence. Although they do not have challan power, they harass the motorcyclists to extort money from them.
A motorcyclist, Mohammad Qasim, resident of Buffer Zone, said he was stopped by the police near Teen Hatti. He had his driving licence and the motorbike's papers in the name of his father. "The police told me that I was driving a stolen motorbike and they threatened me of impounding the motorcycle and arresting me. They demanded Rs200 for my release. I had Rs80 which they grabbed from me and allowed me to go," irked Qsasim added.
The police officials in mobile vans could be seen standing at dark places in Gulberg, North Nazimabad, Landhi, Korangi, Liaquatabad, and other towns. They especially stop motorcyclists and ask them about papers. If the papers are complete, they demand money on the pretext of 'Eidi', he said.
People say that police officials' focus on extorting money from innocent youths is adversely affecting their crime-fighting role, which is one of the major cause of rising street robberies in the city.According to a conservative estimate, at least three people are robbed of their cash and belongings every hour in the city.