LAHORE
CIA police have released three car thieves reportedly on a phone call and even handed over the stolen car to them (thieves).
The incident is an eye opener for the Lahore CCPO and DIG Investigations who had overhauled the Anti-Vehicle Lifting Staff by appointing an officer of SP rank to control vehicle theft in the city.
Delaying tactics used by the personal staff officer of SP AVLS Malik Awais and reader of DSP CIA Model Town Malik Daud to give the complainant access to the officers led to the quashment of the FIR.
Nemat Ali told The News that on Sept 4, 2015 he had parked his BMW car (LWO-320) outside Ittefaq Hospital. He found the car missing on return and searched for it on his own and later informed police. Liaqatabad police registered the FIR No 1391/15 under Section 381/A of PPC.
In the meantime, CIA Sub-inspector Hafiz Tariq arrested three persons --- Irshad, alias Chadda, in a case. Irshad during investigation confessed that he had stolen the BMW of Nemat Ali along with Khalid, alias Khala. They later sold it to Amin, owner of New Barri Auto Workshop situated at Nen Sukh Bypass on Sheikhupura Road, Lahore. Hafiq Tariq raided and arrested Khala and Amin as well and also recovered the BMW. The accused persons had sold the car to Asad Iqbal of Mozang, who claims to be a close kin of a DPO and a DCO.
On Nov 2, 2015, Hafiq Tariq received a call from somebody and released the three accused persons besides returning the car to them. Hafiq Tariq reportedly said he was helpless before his seniors. He, however, suggested the complainant to get the investigation of the case changed so that he could arrest them again.
Hafiz Tariq, when contacted, said he had handed over the accused persons to IO Muhammad Ali.
The same day, the victim approached the Lahore CCPO and submitted an application (No CCPO-2015-4442). The CCPO marked the application to the SP CIA who directed Hafiq Tariq to produce the accused persons within 24 hours along with the car. However, Hafiq Tariq failed to produce the accused persons and car due to the alleged influence of the accused persons.
The complainant filed another application on Nov 5 with the DIG Investigations who marked it to SP CIA Umar Virk. The SP CIA appointed DSP CIA Malik Daud inquiry officer to resolve the case. The reader of DSP Malik Daud summoned the complainant by calling him from official landline number 04299230369 over 12 times but he never presented him before the DSP. The accused party never showed up due to the reasons best known to the reader and the DSP, the complainant claimed.
DSP Malik Daud talking to The News by phone said the case is in his knowledge but he could not look into it so far. He claimed he would resolve the case soon.
Losing hope to get justice, the victim once again approached the DIG Investigations on Feb 2, 2016 for change of investigation. The DIG assuring the victim of justice marked the application to SP AVLS Malik Awais for immediate action.
SI Latif, PSO of SP AVLS, called the complainant from his official cell phone number 0308-7771506 to present him before the SP. The victim appeared before Latif for eight times but the official never presented him before the SP till date. The accused party never showed up there as well.
Talking to The News, SP Awais Malik said the case was not in his notice. One can judge the seriousness of the officer concerned to resolve cases related to vehicles on priority following directions from the DIG Investigations.
In the meantime, the IO of the case, Muhammad Ali, quashed the FIR.
When contacted, the IO he said it was a monetary dispute between two parties so he quashed the FIR.
The victim said accused Asad Iqbal, who had purchased the car from a dealer, was threatening him with implicating him in heinous cases by using his influence.
Asad Iqbal, when contacted, denied allegations. He said he had purchased the car from Amin in one million rupees. As the letter of the vehicle was with Nemat Ali, he was blackmailing him to get the car back. He also said Nemat Ali had sold the car in January 2015 and got a fake FIR lodged in September 2015.
