SAHIWAL(National Times)- District Police Officer (DPO) Usman Tipu suspended nine policemen of the Harappa Police Station after they gave Station House Officer (SHO) Majid Ashfaq a warm sendoff and showered him with rose petals after he was suspended from service by the DPO for faulty investigation, receiving bribes and misuse of authority in a sexual assault case.

SHO Majid Ashfaq was suspended on Aug 27 but the following day, his colleagues organised a farewell reception in his honour on police station premises.

A mobile video of the event went viral, prompting the DPO to take action.

“Police are a disciplined and self-accountable force. No one will be allowed to glorify unprofessional attitude or defiance of a superior’s orders through such bizarre actions,” Mr Tipu told Dawn.

Those suspended for participating in the reception include Sub Inspector Imran, ASIs Khalid Naeem, Gulzar Ahmed and Nadeem Iqbal, head constables Naeem Khan and Nisar Ahmed and constables Mudasir Liaqat, Mubashir Pervaiz and Muhammad Akhter.

It is said only the female constable was spared who did not participate in farewell reception.

The suspension order (Dawn has a copy) says, “They (officials) were suspended on account of inefficiency, undisciplined act and unbecoming of a member of a disciplined force”.

The case at the centre of the controversy dates back to four years when a woman, a resident of Harappa, was allegedly lured by her former male friend who had previously trapped her during her stay in Lahore with promises of marriage but later blackmailed her with explicit videos.

The woman had shifted to Lahore for preparation of her competitive exam. Later, she moved back to Harappa and had an arranged marriage in Chak 56/GD Modain. After her marriage, the suspect continued blackmailing her, extorting Rs1.5m in gold ornaments, Rs40,000 cash and daily expenses for his car. On Aug 19, the suspect allegedly attempted to sexually assault her near Sahiwal Bypass. Her husband intervened and apprehended him.

The suspect was handed over to Harappa Police and a case was registered under rape charges on Aug 21. However, during investigation, SHO Majid Ashfaq allegedly accepted bribe to save the suspect. The matter was reported to the DPO by the victim’s family.

A reinvestigation also confirmed irregularities in the investigation and misuse of authority by the SHO while the suspect himself confessed that a large sum had been paid to the SHO to secure leniency.

Following these findings, the DPO ordered Majid Ashfaq’s suspension and launched a departmental inquiry.