Four Islamabad policemen booked over F-12 looting, illegal detention

Islamabad police have registered a criminal case against four police officials, including a former station house officer, and two other men over the alleged looting of more than Rs1.4 million in cash and valuables from a property in Sector F-12 and the illegal detention of a man.

The first information report was lodged at Sumbal police station on the complaint of Owais Butt, and was registered only after the Islamabad High Court ordered police to do so, ProPakistani reported. Dawn reported that the case names four police officials and two other persons and covers both the looting and the illegal detention.

According to the FIR as reported by ProPakistani, the incident took place on August 19 at Owais Butt's dera in Sector F-12. A guest telephoned him to report a quarrel between his servants and neighbours, after which his cousin, Khawar Butt, went to the premises.

Khawar Butt is said to have found police officials and two other people searching the property and breaking doors. When he objected, the SHO allegedly held him at gunpoint and snatched his mobile phone.

The suspects allegedly took Rs475,000 in cash and valuables worth about Rs1 million, and then took Khawar Butt to the police station. He was released the following morning.

Owais Butt alleged that police also registered a false case against him over the quarrel. He obtained bail before arrest the next day, and the court later quashed the case after its complainant told the court he knew nothing about it, according to the report.

Owais Butt then petitioned a court seeking a case against the police officials and the other suspects. He said police did not register the FIR despite a court order, which prompted him to approach the Islamabad High Court.

The FIR was registered under Sections 506(ii), 427, 190, 166 and 167, provisions dealing with criminal intimidation, damage to property, threats meant to stop a person from seeking protection from a public servant, and public servants disobeying the law or preparing incorrect documents with intent to cause injury. Dawn's account of the case listed Sections 506(ii), 427 and 190.

The reports did not say whether any of the accused had been arrested or whether they had responded to the allegations.