Police Highhandedness: POL dealers threaten to close down filling stations

Sarhad Petroleum Cartage and Dealers Association, Wednesday threatened to close down all patrol pumps in NWFP to protest the highhandedness and plundering of a big amount from a filling station in Matani, a suburban locality of the city.
Addressing a press conference here chairman SPCDA, Mansoor Sharif alleged that police officers of police station Matani demanded bribe from the owner of petrol pump every month. On the refusal of the owner of the filling station, the concerned officers arrested security guard, accusing him of possessing unlicensed gun along with the staff.
"After refusal of the payment, the Station House Officer (SHO) and ASI arrested security guard on the pretext of having unlicensed gun along with staff," Aziz Khan, owner of the filling station charged the police officials. He said after vacating security guard and staff the police officials stolen a handsome amount in cash. However, on contact the officered concerned abused the owner of the filling station.
Similarly, he said that in another incident some unknown persons along with a woman had tried to snatch money from cash carrier vehicle from Marwat filling station situated on G.T Road near Nasipur at 11:00 am on June 18 in which security guard was seriously injured.
The incident had occurred near police station. He said members of Sarhad petroleum and dealers association are being looted at gunpoint, but, despite registering of complaints, no action has been taken by police against criminals and for provision of security to the staff of filling stations.
He demanded of the provincial government to issue licences to security guards of petrol pumps and enable them to equip themselves with arms for security and protection of the properties and lives.
He gave a 10 days deadline to the provincial government for initiating action against the SHO and ASI concerned; otherwise, they would be remained with no other option other closing all filling stations down in the province.