KARACHI: Despite an increase in street crimes , several vehicles of city’s police stations have been seized, whereas petrol supply to them has also been closed for a month.

While street crimes and other criminal offences are on rise in Karachi, at least 85 police mobiles have been confiscated by Garden Police Headquarters under a check and balance system used for station house officers (SHOs).

Police officials said that there is a discrepancy between running of police mobiles and petrol withdrawn from fuel cards during July 2022. Police sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said that police vehicles have been installed with trackers to compare running of cars and petrol withdrawn. As per tracker readings if car is only run for 100 kilometres, then officers are questioned why excess fuel was taken out from cards.

Sources said that 85 vehicles of police stations and officers were summoned at Garden Police Headquarters in name of maintenance. However, once all cars were submitted, they were confiscated and drivers were sent home.

Officials, who requested not to be named said that these mobiles do not have air-conditioners and officers use their private cars to appear before courts or attend daily meetings in extreme heat. They added that only petrol given to police stations is used in budget.

Officer also shared that top leadership of law enforcement agency has not taken into account that due to non-release of budget for this quarter, fuel of Karachi police has been stopped since September 10. Soon after news broke, Karachi Police spokesperson clarified that vehicles have been summoned for repairs due to technical and mechanical problems. He added that all vehicles have been returned after completion of repairs.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 03 2022

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