KP police reluctant to go after white-collar criminals

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police seem hesitant to go after 162 gangs of white-collar criminals involved in illegal occupation of properties in the provincial capital, harassment of people and displaying arms in public, a source told The News.
The capital city police authorities had compiled a list of 162 white-collar criminals and so-called jirga members in November last year. Action was to be taken against them for patronizing land-grabbing and spreading terror in the society by brandishing automatic weapons in public.
There were reports that many on the list had started approaching political personalities and senior police officers to be allowed to move with half a dozen guards on the pretext of having blood-feuds and receiving threats from extortionists.
These white-collar criminals are normally escorted by armed men, and even policemen, in two or three vehicles. Also, the armed men carry automatic weapons outside their hujras and houses round the clock, harassing people in the vicinity as well as the passersby.
The capital city police officer (CCPO) Ijaz Ahmad, however, said the force is going to take action against them soon as nobody is above the law and will not be allowed to harass people and promote Kalashnikov culture.
“We are working on it. Some of them have already got the message after finding their names on the list,” Ijaz Ahmad told The News.
Those in the list of 162 included people from all parts of Peshawar, particularly the urban and suburban areas.
The city police were ordered last year to compile lists of individuals and groups involved in land-grabbing and spreading terror in the city by brandishing weapons on purpose. Some of these infamous characters have become a symbol of terror in the city for years.
It was learnt that some senior police officials are finding it difficult to lay hands on them without receiving any formal complaints from victims. The cops are also discussing how to ensure they do not display arms in public to harass people in case all the guards have licensed weapons.
These groups, according to the sources, have association with one or the other political party. They frequently convey messages to the people about their influence and connections by inviting politicians, bureaucrats and policemen to their hujras.
Some of them have access to the media too where they manage to get their pictures published with important personalities.
Most leaders of these rings belong to the middle class but they have accumulated properties worth millions of rupees in the city and its surroundings.
“They drive luxury vehicles, especially land-cruisers and double-cabin pickups, and have political ambitions to further strengthen themselves. These criminals have developed a strong network and earn millions of rupees
from Peshawarites daily through criminal acts,” said a source.
Those on the list of 162 infamous people reportedly have close connection with some of the police officials, especially at the police station level.
“They help the cops in running the affairs of the police stations and offices. They keep visiting their hujras and a message is conveyed to the people that the law-enforcers are hand in glove with them,” said the source.