Probe launched into graft allegations against traffic cops

NOWSHERA: In a significant development, District Police Officer (DPO) Nowshera, Muhammad Azhar Khan, initiated a major reshuffle in the Nowshera Traffic Police following allegations of large-scale embezzlement in the traffic challan funds.

Several traffic police officers have been suspended, and an investigation has been launched to probe the corruption charges.An investigation committee, led by DSP Pabbi Jawad Khan, had been formed to probe the matter.

According to DPO Azhar Khan, complaints were received about corruption in the traffic department.The IT Incharge of the traffic police, Daulat Khan, was interrogated and he admitted that there was embezzlement in the traffic challan fund. He confessed that under the instruction of Traffic Police Incharge Fayyaz Khan, he had been making payments to him periodically.

He also disclosed that heavy fines were imposed on vehicles from Punjab at certain checkpoints, but only a small portion of the collected fines was deposited in the national treasury. Additionally, specific checkpoints had their “rates,” and certain officers, part of an entrenched mafia, had been assigned to these lucrative locations for years.

In the first phase of the crackdown, all officers involved in this mafia were removed from traffic police duties and reassigned to general duty.

Several key officers, including Traffic Incharge Fayyaz Khan and IT Clerk Daulat Khan, have been suspended, and an inquiry committee has been set up to investigate the extent of the corruption. Both Fayyaz Khan and Daulat Khan have been placed on suspension pending further investigation.

Daulat Khan, in a detailed statement submitted to the inquiry officer, claimed that he was following the orders of his superior, Fayyaz Khan. He further said that he had not implicated any other officer because previous traffic incharges had not been involved in any financial misconduct.

DPO Azhar Khan said that the mafia within the traffic police had been dismantled, and new officers had been appointed, who were expected to perform their duties with integrity. “I have instructed the new appointees to make do with their lawful earnings and not break my trust. They must provide better services to the public and ensure smooth traffic flow,” he remarked.According to DSP Jawad Khan, the initial findings indicated that the national exchequer suffered a loss of Rs9.1 million due to corruption.