Karachi:(By Baghi Sagar Panhwar)Serious allegations of corruption, abuse of authority and facilitating the alleged movement of smuggled goods have surfaced against the Station House Officer (SHO) of Sachal Police Station, Wilayat Shah, prompting citizens and traders to demand an immediate inquiry by senior police officials and the Sindh government.
According to written complaints and statements from local traders and residents, the law and order situation within the jurisdiction of Sachal Police Station has deteriorated considerably. Complainants allege that the illegal transportation of non-custom-paid cigarettes and other goods continues openly during the late-night and early-morning hours without effective police intervention.
The complainants further allege that individuals said to be acting on behalf of the SHO have been stationed at the Quetta bus terminal to monitor and facilitate the arrival of suspected smuggled consignments. They also claim that an official police mobile vehicle has allegedly been used to escort or provide protection to vehicles transporting such goods.
According to the allegations, the consignments reportedly reach the city after 3:00 a.m., where retailers and wholesalers allegedly gather to purchase the goods before they are distributed across various markets. The complainants further allege that weekly illegal payments are collected in exchange for protection and uninterrupted movement of the suspected contraband.
Residents argue that if these allegations are substantiated, they would constitute a grave breach of public trust and represent a serious misuse of police authority. They say such claims cannot be ignored and require an independent, transparent and time-bound investigation.
Civil society representatives have urged the Inspector General of Police, Sindh, the Additional Inspector General Karachi and anti-corruption authorities to examine all available evidence, including CCTV footage, vehicle movement records, call data where legally permissible and deployment logs, to determine whether any public officials were involved in unlawful activities.
At the time of publication, SHO Wilayat Shah had not publicly responded to these allegations. The allegations remain unverified, and no findings have yet been made by a court or competent investigative authority.
Citizens maintain that a credible and impartial investigation is essential not only to establish the truth but also to restore public confidence in law enforcement and reinforce the principle that accountability must apply equally to every public office holder.