Khalid Mahmood
Taxila - Potohar Division Superintendent of Police (SP) Attique Tahir held an open court at community centre Taxila to resolve the problems being faced by the residents. DSP Taxila Circle Saleem Khattak, former MPA Umer Farooq and concerned station house officers were also present on this occasion.
People from various segments of society, including traders, politicians, religious leaders, journalists and general public burst against police and wardens and highlighted their misuses of power, corruption and illegal actions.
During the open court, the police high-ups were informed by the residents and traders that their applications for registration of robbery and theft cases are not entertained. They said that police officials are reluctant to register their cases. Some traders reported to SP that even the apprehended outlaws were set free due to the illegal gratifications received by the concerned cops. Complainants informed that police have developed strong interaction with the anti-social elements that mushroomed drugs, liquor and prostitution dens in every hook of corner especially in Taxila and Wah Saddar Police Station. The SP was informed those police not only mint money from masses on different pretexts but also indulge them in different cases through fake FIRs.
The SP was informed that in 90 per cent crimes, Afghan nationals are involved who are living in the area on rented houses.  He was informed that traffic wardens instead of streamlining traffic on intercity routes, they focus on issuing tickets. In response to masses complaints, the SP termed the corrupt cops in police force as blot on the department. He said that black sheep would be removed from the area to ensure masses’ confidence in police. He said that from SHOs to constable level, staff in three different police stations would be reshuffled.
He said that he has always been striving for maintaining law and order and eliminating of all kinds of crimes but this could only be ensured with the cooperation of public and media. He said that behaviour of cops mattered very much to gain the confidence of masses.
The SP said that he directed the subordinates to improve their behaviour towards the masses and respect the law-abiding people. He reaffirmed the commitment to root out the menace of corruption and make the district police corruption free. “No one within the department would be allowed to do any kind of embezzlement and only those following the policy of zero tolerance against corruption would survive,” he added.              
On this occasion, he received many applications and issued orders on them on the spot.
Later talking to newsmen, he said that the presence of Daaish has not established during the investigation carried out by police department. About hoisting flags and wall chalking, he termed the act by some miscreants to create panic in the area. He said that surprise checks would be carried out at pickets and police station to check the illegal acts and actions of policemen deputed in Taxila circle.
Responding to a question, he said that so far no orders of crackdown against the PTI activists on eve of November 30 rally has received. He said that the transfer of the cops, deployed here beyond their station limit would be ensured in 48 hours positively.