LAHORE - Every second police station in Lahore is literally sold out. Most of the station house officers (SHOs) are collecting ‘monthly’ from brothels, guesthouses and gambling dens operating in different parts of the provincial capital.
As per investigations conducted by TheNation, the monthly income of the sold-out police stations varies from Rs200,000 to Rs500,000 – depending upon the numbers of brothels, drug dealers and gambling dens in the area.
Mostly sub-inspectors (SIs) are posted as SHOs in sheer violation of the Police Orders 2002. An SI paid Rs150,000 to the brother of a senior police officer to get posting as an SHO in Lahore’s downtown several months ago. He was transferred just after three months from the position but he is contented since he collected a reasonable amount from various sources during his posting.
The SHOs are posted on the recommendations of powerful individuals and pressure groups as well. They could be top bureaucrats, senior politicians, relatives of the top cops, and influential journalists too.
“The SHOs are posted only for a couple of months in Lahore. It is very difficult for us to retain the posting,” said the officer, who on the condition of anonymity shared interesting matters related to Lahore police working with this scribe.
“Now, I have bribed Rs100,000 to another influential to get reposted,” he added. The official said: “Senior police officers are part of the problem. During my posting, I had been paying the utility bills of a woman on the order of my boss since she was his darling.” Lahore is divided into six police divisions with over 100 police stations and police posts. The monthly income being collected from Data Darbar police station and Chowki Sabzi Mandi ranges from Rs150,000 to Rs300,000.
The police stations including Nolakha, Qila Gujjar Singh, Lorry Adda, Shafiqabad, Shadbagh, Baghbanpura, Shahdara, Defense-A, Nawan Kot, Shera Kot, Satu Katla, Badami Bagh, Factory Area, Kot Lakhpat, Ravi Road, and Nishtar Colony are considered A-one police stations from where Rs500,000 to Rs300,000 ‘monthly’ income is generated easily.
Similarly, Iqbal Town, Johar Town, Nawab Town, Ghalib Market, Shahdara Town, Misri Shah, Garhi Shahu, Bhatti Gate, Gowalmandi, Tibbi City, Lohari Gate, Manga Mandi, Sabzazar, Hanjarwal, Kahna, South Cantonment, North Cantonment, and Chuhng police stations are said to be category-B police stations from where the police collect Rs300,000 to Rs200,000 ‘monthly.’
The ‘monthly’ income from the category-C police stations ranges from Rs200,000 to Rs120,000 and these police stations includes Samanabad, Wahdat Colony, Millat Park, Gulshan-e-Ravi, Shalimar, Gujjarpura, Islampura, Manawan, Sanda, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Mustafa Town, and Masti Gate, Harbanspura, Batapur, Gulberg, Faisal Town, Ichhra, and Ghaziabad police stations. 
There are a good number of police officers who are serving as SHOs in different police stations for the last several years. They are suspended and even dismissed from service on corruption charges many times but they get back postings successfully. Police officials including Faisal Sharif, Mazhar Iqbal, Rashid Amin Butt, Sharif Sindhu, Muhammad Ali Butt, Zulfikar, Amir Saleem, Umar Rasheed, Ahsan Ashraf Butt, and Tahir Ikram are a few examples.
Ironically, according to former Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah, it is the right of the politicians to get the police officials posted as SHOs at the places of their own choice since they are public representatives. In their campaign manifesto, the PML-N had pledged the much-needed police reforms. Under the present scenario where politicians are virtually running the affairs of the police department, the talks of change in police culture (Thana culture) seem unrealistic.
This transfer and posting policy also indicates that the PML-N leadership is no more serious in bringing positive changes to improve the policing.
The DPOs and RPOs are appointed by the chief minister himself while the DSPs and SHOs are posted on the orders of ministers and influential politicians.
Following the directives of Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Amin Wains, the department has set new criteria for the police officials for their postings as SHOs in Lahore. A police spokesman claimed that as per new policy the SHOs would be appointed keeping in view their eligibility, track-record, and performance. DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf has constituted a three-member committee comprising SP Security, SP Headquarters, and the concerned divisional SP to assess the working and performance of the officers.  The committee would send its recommendations to the DIG (Operation) prior to their postings as SHOs. The police spokesman said that the new criteria would help the department post right and dedicated officers as SHOs at the police stations.
Extortion by the police is also on the rise. Many constables take bribes from hawkers, roadside food stalls etc. Brothels, gambling dens, organised crime syndicates, and transporters are also a major source of income. Even for passport verification, money is demanded.
This has to stop. The government must take initiatives to discourage the 'hafta' and ‘monthly’ culture.
Crime experts say online services should be improved so that there is no need for citizens to visit police stations.