On the orders of the Ombudsman Punjab, Khalid Mahmood, CCPO Lahore suspended SHO Police Station Nishtar Colony Lahore, Rana Muhammad Akmal, and directed him to report Police Lines Lahore. The Ombudsman office during the course of inquiry found the said SHO guilty of registering fake cases against the citizens and threatening them just to extort money.
An official spokesman said that Ombudsman Punjab in the light of the inquiry report ordered CCPO Lahore to suspend the SHO immediately and referred the case to Anti-Corruption Establishment Punjab and ordered DG ACE to proceed against the SHO under intimation to his office within a period of one month.
According to details, Usman Ghani, a resident of DHA Lahore, lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman Punjab that he had reserved one Kanal of his land for construction of Mosque in Lahore Cantt Area.
When the complainant started construction work of the mosque, SHO PS Nishtar Colony, Rana Akmal, knowing his sound financial position, registered a case against him on the charges of illegal occupation of land without any complainant. SHO Akmal arrested Usman Ghani and put him in the police lock-up. He demanded Rs 50,000/- as gratification and received Rs 30,000/- from the complainant in the presence of the notables.
After an inquiry, the Judicial Magistrate ordered release of Usman Ghani and discharged the case as it was found totally baseless and an act of blackmailing.
SHO Rana Akmal registered a case against servants of the complainant for stealing the mud on the same day and took away 2 tractors and trolleys of the complainant and burst tyres of crane at the police station.
The Judicial Magistrate also found this case baseless and without any complainant and again ordered the police to discharge the case and release the servants immediately. The complainant further stated that SHO Rana Akmal was threatening him of dire consequences misusing his position and powers.
Ombudsman Punjab directed Salahuddin Niazi, Consultant, to probe the matter. During the course of inquiry, SP Model Town submitted a report just to save his subordinate which was turned down by the Inquiry Officer as the notables and witnesses on oath had revealed the facts before the Inquiry Officer.
It was proved that SHO Rana Akmal had been misusing his powers and authority to register fake cases against citizens just to blackmail them and extort money. Ombudsman Punjab ordered CCPO Lahore to place SHO PS Nishtar Colony Rana Akmal under suspension and also referred the case to Anti-Corruption and directed DG ACE to proceed against the accused and submit compliance report to his office within a period of one month.