The Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) registered a case against an SHO and an assistant sub-inspector on Sunday over charges of receiving a bribe to let alleged liquor smugglers go. Though the money was apparently received, the smugglers were not released, police said.
The policemen allegedly received Rs550,000 to free the seized liquor and men.
The application was filed by Basheer Ahmad on March 11. He said two oil tankers (TLF-547 and TTA-090) were caught by the Kot Samba police on February 24. He said the police had found alcohol in these tankers. The drivers did not have the permit for it. He said SHO Safdar Sindhu and Assistant Sub-Inspector Arif demanded that the tanker owners pay them Rs1 million for their release. The complainant said they paid them Rs550,000. However, they did not release the men, who were instead sent to jail.
ACE Bahawalpur Director Jam Baqa ordered an inquiry.
In the investigation, ACE officials said, the respondents were found guilty.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2013.