Four members of the Sindh Police have been apprehended for their involvement in corruption following complaints lodged by Pakistani cricketers Sohaib Maqsood and Aamir Yamin on social media. The cricketers alleged extortion by police officers stationed at the Sakrand police station, prompting swift action by the Sindh Police against its own personnel. The officers were taken into custody in Nawabshah and subsequently placed behind bars.
Sohaib Maqsood and Aamir Yamin expressed dissatisfaction with the Sindh Police, claiming corruption when officers from the Sakrand police station demanded bribes as they were en route to Multan for the National T20 Cup. Playing for Multan Regions, the cricketers were allegedly stopped by the police upon returning from Karachi and coerced into paying money.
In response to the cricketers’ grievances, a case was promptly registered against the officers for accepting funds from the athletes. The Sindh Police took immediate action, suspending the station house officer (SHO) and head inspector of the Sakrand police station due to negligence, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Sindh Police.
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Shaheed Benazirabad, Parvez Chandio, stated that a formal First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the implicated officials. The inquiry report by DIG Shaheed Benazirabad detailed the bribery incident that occurred on the Superhighway between 12 am and 1 am, leading to the suspension of the SHO and other officials found guilty of negligence.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Haider Raza, the incident unfolded at the Kairia stop, where two police mobiles were deployed for duty. Photographs of the involved officers were sent to Maqsood for identification, and efforts were escalated in the investigation with the collaboration of motorway police and excise police, deploying them on the National Highway.
Sohaib Maqsood took to social media to share his experience, stating, “We are so lucky that we live in Punjab, not in Sindh. First time in my life, I have traveled from Karachi to Multan by road, and Sindh police are so corrupt that they stop you after 50 km and ask for money or threaten you for no reason if you give them.”
This incident underscores the pressing issue of corruption within law enforcement agencies and emphasizes the need for stringent measures to curb such practices. The Sindh Police’s swift response to the complaints from the cricketers demonstrates a commitment to accountability and transparency. Investigations are ongoing, and those found responsible for the alleged extortion are expected to face legal consequences.