Rawalpindi's newly appointed City Police Officer (CPO) Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera has taken major disciplinary action after a first-year college student accused police officials of falsely implicating him in a drug case, illegally detaining him, mistreating him and extorting money.
Student's Allegations
According to police, the student, identified as Usman, submitted a complaint to the CPO stating that he had gone out for burgers with his cousin when police officials stopped their vehicle, searched them and the car, and initially found nothing. He alleged that the officers then falsely claimed to have recovered hashish from the vehicle, assaulted him and took him to an undisclosed location where he was allegedly subjected to physical abuse.
The student further alleged that the officers seized the cash he was carrying, including money meant for his academy fees. He also claimed that the police obtained his family's property registration documents and later demanded money in exchange for returning them.
Social Media Amplification
Videos of the student and his grandfather also surfaced on social media, in which they reiterated the allegations that police officials had retained the property documents. After the complaint went viral, the CPO personally reviewed the investigation.
Disciplinary Action
After the allegations were found to be substantiated, SHO Dhamiyal, Sub-Inspector Anwarul Haq, was suspended and charge-sheeted for negligence. In addition, three police officials—Hamza, Sayab and Naseem—were suspended on corruption charges. A criminal case was registered against them, and all three were arrested.
