Pubdate: Mon, 22 Oct 2007
Source: Post, The (Pakistan)
Copyright: 2007 The Post
Contact:  http://thepost.com.pk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4587

SAMANABAD SAFE HAVEN FOR DRUG SELLERS

LAHORE: Samanabad has become a safe haven for drug dealers, who are openly 
selling drugs to youths in the area, The Post Team learnt Sunday.

To check the performance of the police in this regard, The Post Team 
reached Samanabad police station without prior information, where it found 
the police busy chatting with each other.

When a member of the team made a complaint to the duty officer about the 
loss of his motorcycle, he replied, 'It doesn't matter; such incidents 
occur daily. Come at night, a police team will accompany you to the spot 
from where your bike was lifted." When the team asked about the SHO, a 
constable said that the SHO had just left the office, but another cop said 
that he had not been there since morning.

Later, the team contacted the locals of the area, who made a number of 
complaints against the police. The traders of Samanabad Market said that 
the police extorted money from them. When the team asked them why they did 
not complain to the SHO, they said that the SHO himself sent his 
subordinates to extort money from traders.

They said that the area had become a safe haven for drug sellers. They said 
that they often complained to the SHO about the presence of drug sellers 
but to no avail.

They accused the SHO of accepting bribes from drug dealers on a monthly basis.

Contacted Samanabad SHO Imran Khan on the phone, he acknowledged the 
presence of drug dealers in his area, but he said that he was unaware of 
their exact locations. He said he received a number of complaints from the 
locals about the presence of drug dealers, but nobody was ready to give 
their exact location.

When he was questioned about the complaints of traders, he said that he did 
not know who received bribes from them however, he said that traders 
themselves bribed policemen.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D