ISLAMABAD: A public transporter has approached Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, seeking action against some police officials and a group of extortionists who allegedly damaged his coaster on March 28 after he refused to pay Rs600 they were demanding from each passenger van.

Talking to Dawn, transporter Shakeel Ahmed said he knocked at the minister’s door after getting no relief from the deputy commissioner, the deputy inspector general of police (Operations) and SSP operations.

He said he and his brother Naveed Ahmed used to ply a passenger vehicle on a route from Pirwadhai to Malot Satian. On March 28, a group of few people intercepted his vehicle in Khanna area and forcefully got all passengers off the vehicle.

They badly damaged their coaster, causing Rs1million loss to the van. Though the police had registered a case, it later released all the accused nominated in the FIR without interrogation, and allowed the accused to take their vehicle, which the police had impounded, and removed some sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) from the FIR.

He and his brother had first lodged a complaint with SSP Operations, DIG Operations and deputy commissioner Islamabad seeking investigation into the matter but alleged that none of them took the matter seriously despite registration of a case on March 30, at Khanna Police Station, Islamabad.

However, the investigating officer removed certain sections from the case and released the nominated accused immediately after their arrest, he alleged.

In his complaint, he requested that the sections deleted from the case be reinstated, and the vehicle that caused the damage be confiscated and an honest investigating officer be assigned the case.

The complainant said he wanted to run the passenger van on the designated route, but he was being threatened by the group, warning him that if he continued operating the passenger vehicle, they would set the vehicle on fire or fabricate a false case and get his vehicle impounded.

He requested a thorough investigation into this matter by the law enforcement agencies and take necessary action.

In his complaint emailed to the interior minister he sought action against the police and the gang of extortionist.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Operation Jawad Tariq, when contacted for comments, replied: “Ok, will enquire.” The other two officers were not available for the comments.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2025