Taking serious note of public complaints with regard to corruption, harassment, custodial deaths, misuse of vehicles, abuse of power, and other massive irregularities against Sindh police, Sindh CM's Advisor on home affairs, Aftab Ahmed Shaikh, has constituted a high-powered vigilance team to investigate the complaints, conduct surprise raids and submit a detailed report to him.
The well-placed sources in Sindh home department told PPI on Monday the vigilance team has been assigned to carry out multi-dimensional inquiries covering the traffic, license and other sections of police, and the prisons throughout the province.
Aftab Ahmed Shaikh had received scores of complaints on rampant corruption in traffic police, license branch and other sections of the Sindh police department, sources said.
"Grave situation prevails in the Sindh police department, as it has been learnt that a large number of jeeps, cars, mobiles and other vehicles were in personal use of police officials beyond their privilege. Moreover, they have engaged a large number of policemen at their houses to serve as domestic servant.
The vigilance team will also probe this matter besides, the government expenses incurring on it, and compile the report for necessary action," the sources said.
Another irregularity had recently been unearthed when the new Dadu District Police Officer conducted raids at the police stations, and found that the district police had about 1,000 ghost officials, they said, adding in view of this situation, it has been decided to conduct such raids in Karachi and other regions of the province.
"The authorities have learnt about an illegal practice known as the 'Visa System' according to which the policemen pay 50 percent or in certain cases their full salary to the "Munshi" and other officials of the police, and, in return, they are allowed to sit at home, do other jobs and even work abroad. The vigilance team will also look into it, and ascertain the number of such policemen which is said to be in thousands", the sources said.
In this respect, they said the team will visit the police stations and other police offices to check the attendance registers, pay registers, and other documents to ascertain the facts, adding this would also bring forth the actual strength of the police in the province.
As regards traffic police, the sources said they are reportedly involved in corrupt practices of token-system, registration of vehicles, issuance of driving licenses, field testing of vehicles, etc, adding the team would also cover these aspects.
The police torture in lock-ups, custodial deaths, corruption in prisons especially with regard to extortion of money from the relatives of prisoners, and other complaints would also be looked into, they added.
Sources, however, did not divulge the names of vigilance committee, saying the names would be kept secret for conducting surprise raids.
"If needed, the Advisor himself might accompany the team in such raids", they said.
When contacted to Aftab Shaikh to confirm the report, he gave a mixed response, saying: "Yes, I have received scores of such complaints, and I will investigate it for stern action".
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