Citizens accuse Islamabad police of blackmail, bribery

ISLAMABAD: A man in Islamabad on Sunday accused the local police officers of demanding bribe from him.

According to sources, a police official in the Noon police station, Saqib Shah blackmails innocent civilians and then extorts money from people by calling them to criminal houses.

The man identified as  Hamza was arrested by Noon Police Station on suspicion of mobile theft, after which the police official, Saqib Shah made a deal of Rs 40,000 with Hamza’s family.

Barkat ASI of Noon police station had dealt the case of theft. After taking Rs 40,000, the police released Hamza and then a few days later, with the connivance of Saqib Shah, CIA sub-inspector Asim and other unidentified officials raided the Asim’s house in the night and arrested him again.

Sources said Sub-inspector Asim and Saqib Shah did not bother to inform the concerned police station nor did they get a search warrant of the Asim before his arrest.

Hamza was in police custody for five days after his arrest, while Saqib Shah was in constant contact with Hamza’s family and repeatedly demanded Rs. 400,000, sources added.

The victim alleged that the police have threatened to arrest his mother and brother in fake cases if he failed to pay the bribe money. Later, Hamza’s family approached Islamabad court and on the order of the court, a team of officials raided the CIA police station.

During the raid, it was disclosed that several innocent citizens, including women and young men were held hostage in the police station.

The people of the area have complained about the activities of police to the high-up several times but no action has been taken as the said police have political support, sources said.