Rawalpindi police have taken decisive action against corruption by registering a formal case against six individuals for attempting to bribe government officials on a major highway. The incident, which underscores ongoing challenges in regulating food supply chains, occurred on the busy M-1 Motorway.
The Brazen Bribery Attempt on the Motorway
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the sequence of events began when Food Inspector Mian Khawar was performing his duty with a monitoring team on the M-1 motorway, within the jurisdiction of the Airport Police Station. Inspector Khawar received a startling phone call from an unidentified person. The caller issued a direct and illegal demand: the inspection team must allow a convoy of trucks, loaded with flour, to pass through the checkpoint without the required official permit.
To secure this illegal passage, the unknown caller offered a substantial bribe to the food department staff. Demonstrating integrity, Inspector Khawar firmly refused the illicit offer. This refusal, however, triggered a series of threats from the caller, who began making repeated threatening calls.
Threats, Illegal Truck, and On-Site Bribe Offer
Undeterred by Khawar's clear rejection, the caller escalated the situation by threatening to move the trucks by force. He ominously warned the inspector that he would be held responsible for any 'consequences'. Shortly after these threats, a truck bearing the registration number 3322C arrived at the monitoring post.
The truck driver, who identified himself as Qasim Ayaz, and his companion, Naveed Khan, were unable to produce any valid documentation. They had neither the mandatory e-permit or delivery order nor a proper license for transporting the flour. As the inspection was being conducted, a car pulled up near the team.
Four unidentified men emerged from the vehicle and approached Inspector Khawar. In a bold and direct move, they once again offered him a large sum of money as a bribe to let the truck proceed unchecked.
Legal Repercussions and Broader Implications
Following the failed bribery attempt and the subsequent threats, a formal case was lodged at the Airport Police Station against all six individuals involved. This includes the two men from the truck and the four who arrived by car. The police are now investigating to identify the original caller and trace the network behind this attempted corruption.
This incident highlights the pressures and risks faced by civil servants tasked with regulating essential commodities. The attempt to bypass flour transportation permits points to potential vulnerabilities in the supply chain that authorities are keen to seal. The case sends a strong message about the consequences of attempting to corrupt public officials and disrupt regulatory mechanisms.
