Officials clash over ‘unwarranted interference’

Tensions escalated between officials of the Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Department and the police over allegations of harassment directed at liquor permit holders leaving a five-star hotel on Mall Road in Rawalpindi.

The incident, which unfolded in public and was captured on video, quickly went viral on social media, showcasing a heated confrontation between the two agencies.

The video depicts police personnel halting vehicles outside the hotel and reportedly harassing liquor permit holders. This public display of discord prompted swift action from SSP Operations Hafiz Kamran Asghar, who suspended two officials involved in the incident and initiated internal investigations.

According to sources, permit holders voiced their grievances against alleged harassment by police officers who intercepted vehicles leaving the hotel after patrons purchased liquor with valid permits. The checkpoint, established opposite the private hotel on Mall Road, became a focal point of contention as permit holders accused the police of unwarranted interference.

During one such operation, Civil Lines police station personnel stopped a vehicle outside the hotel. When confronted by a woman excise inspector and her team, the police maintained their position on conducting checks, leading to a verbal confrontation captured in the video.

Witnesses at the scene claimed that police officers were unnecessarily recording details from the permits and causing inconvenience to permit holders.

In the video, the excise inspector questioned the authority of the police to independently conduct checks without joint oversight, as previously agreed between the two departments for addressing any suspected illegal activities. The exchange highlighted discrepancies in procedures and responsibilities between the police and Excise departments.

Further complicating the situation, allegations surfaced regarding the filing of a wrongful FIR against an elderly individual unrelated to the hotel incident. This accusation, along with ongoing tensions, underscored the strained relationship between the two agencies.

ETO Excise Gul Sher clarified that non-Muslim permit holders, especially during the Easter festival, are permitted to possess and transport alcohol with valid permits. However, instances of alleged harassment and misconduct by certain police officers led to formal complaints and internal investigations within the Excise department.

In response to the video and escalating tensions, SSP Operations Hafiz Kamran Asghar emphasised the primary duty of police personnel in crime prevention and security enforcement. Any deviations from these responsibilities, as evidenced in the video, would result in stringent departmental actions against the involved officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2024.