Shocking details emerged in a bribery case involving Karachi police, where officers accused of extorting $80,000 from US national Zafarullah Merchant, leaving the Sindh High Court in a state of disbelief, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
According to the petitioner’s counsel, Zafarullah Merchant was allegedly harassed by Sub-Inspector Nadeem Akhtar Butt and Constable Asif Noor Khan, extorting $80,000 from him by threatening to frame him in bogus cases.
The incident is reportedly tied to a property dispute in Garden West, where the opposing party purportedly exploited police connections to exert pressure on Merchant.
The police department’s legal representative, DSP Legal, in a troubling development, revealed that Constable Asif Noor Khan has no official record in the Central Police Office.
His current posting and service history could not be located, raising serious concerns about administrative oversight.
The court questioned the integrity of the police command structure, expressing concern over apparent collusion among the accused.
Justice Nisar Ahmad Bhambro remarked, “There seems to be a network within the department shielding the accused.”
One of the accused, Sub-Inspector Nadeem Akhtar, expressed his intent to pursue an out-of-court resolution with the complainant.
A seven-day period has been granted to both parties by the court to negotiate a settlement.
Justice Nisar Ahmad Bhambro, however, cautioned that if no agreement is reached, departmental proceedings would be initiated, along with a directive to the Sindh Inspector General of Police.
The court also directed the Central Police Office to ensure that the complainant is not subjected to any form of harassment. It emphasized that any such actions must prompt immediate disciplinary measures against the responsible officers of the Soldier Bazaar Police Station.
The case was formally referred to the Sindh Inspector General of Police for a departmental inquiry.
Reporter Mumtaz Jamali