ISLAMABAD: Two senior officers of the capital police were removed after they were found involved in misuse of power, Dawn has learnt.

One of the officers was a superintendent of police (SP) and the other an assistant superintendent of police (ASP).

The SP was removed in light of an inquiry conducted by the SSP operations under the directives of Deputy Inspector General of Police (operations) Afzaal Ahmad Kausar over the escape of two persons arrested by the police.

Police sources told Dawn that a team from the Mathra police station of Peshawar came to the capital and arrested two persons wanted in connection with an attempted murder case with the assistance of Golra police on August 12. Later, they were taken to the Golra police station and put behind bars for further legal action, including obtaining a transit remand to take them to Peshawar.

Late at night, some officials of the Golra police station took the two suspects to their house in E-11. However, the suspects escaped from the police custody after reaching the house.

A case was registered against two police officials who had taken the suspects out of the police station while the station house officer (SHO) was suspended after the incident.

The DIG operations directed SSP Dr Syed Mustafa Tanweer to conduct an inquiry.

During the inquiry, it was revealed that the SP had directed the SHO Golra to take the two suspects to their house so that they could meet their family, including the mother, the sources said.

On the direction of the SP, the SHO asked his two subordinates to take the suspects to their house.

After reaching the house, the police officials remained outside. Later, the policemen knocked on the door to take the suspects to the police station but they had already escaped.

It was also revealed that the SP had issued the direction to the SHO on the intervention of a lawmaker.

On July 14, a section officer of the Establishment Division was arrested by the Shahzad Town police on the charge of rape. After registration of the case, some senior officers asked the police to favour the suspect. But the SHO refused as the case had been registered and the suspect nominated with his name, the sources said.

Later, the ASP under the directive of a SP pressured the complainant to compromise with the suspect. A meeting was also arranged at the office of the ASP between the complainant and the suspect where the police officer assured the woman that she would be compensated, they said.

Later, in her statement in front of an assistant commissioner the victim backtracked from the allegation. She also backtracked from her allegation in a court.

When contacted, DIG Operations Afzaal Ahmad Kausar confirmed to Dawn that an SP working in the operations division had been removed and his services surrendered to the Establishment Division after he was found involved in misuse of power.

About the ASP, he said he was also removed and his services surrendered to the Establishment Division over a few complaints, including not attending his office regularly and properly and showing no interest in official work.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2021