RAWALPINDI: A fire that broke out in a truck parked at a warehouse two days ago, within the jurisdiction of the Dhamial police station, has turned out to be linked to the theft of crude oil. Investigations revealed tampering with an underground pipeline in a Pakistan Oil Field (POL), prompting the registration of a criminal case.

The case was registered with the police on Saturday against individuals involved and owners of the house from which the oil was being stolen by digging a tunnel. The value of the stolen crude oil was estimated to be worth Rs254.88 million.

The case was registered with the Dhamial police on the complaint of Shahid Ahmed, Senior Executive Administrator of Pakistan Oil Field (POL). It extracts crude oil from the ground and supplies it to the Attock Oil Refinery through pipelines.

The complainant said in the FIR that for some time there had been reports of oil theft from an unknown location from Pind Fateh to Morgah, and it was being searched. The patrolling supervisor, Syed Mudassar Shah, reported Mr Ahmed that a house in Ranial had caught fire and thick black smoke was visible from a distance.

Five arrested on charge of stealing company’s 12,821 barrels of crude oil worth over Rs254m, says FIR

The complainant said that after receiving the phone call, he along with his staff reached the site and found Rescue 1122 crew and police busy in extinguishing the flames while other government officials were standing by.

At the scene, a dumper with a tank built into it with apparent concrete on its top was engulfed in flames, and a motorcycle was also burning. The house was 750 feet away from the company’s pipeline.

When the pressure was stopped and a suspicious area was excavated, it was discovered that the company’s 10-inch diameter pipeline had been tampered with and a clamp installed and laid underground to the house.

He said that the oil was being stolen and stored in two tanks inside the house using pipes installed by underground miners. The tanks inside the house were filled with oil.

The FIR said crude oil was also recovered from inside the house, and the police seized the clamps and a 750-foot-long rubber pipe.

Besides, CNICs of Sharafat Ali, Mohammad Bilal and a pistol were recovered from the house. The FIR said Mohammad Wajid was found to be involved in facilitating the suspects.

Sher Khan, the owner of the house, and his son Fazal Sher were also found to be involved, police said.

“The above-mentioned suspects caused huge losses by stealing 12,821 barrels of crude oil from the company. The value of the stolen crude oil was estimated worth Rs254,881,480.”

The case was registered against the suspects under relevant sections of the law leading to their arrest.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2025