Rawalpindi Police Officials Suspended After Viral Bribery Video
RAWALPINDI: Three police officials posted at Dhamial police station were suspended and arrested after a corruption complaint by a citizen led to an immediate inquiry and the registration of a case on Wednesday. The development gained wider attention after a video allegedly showing police personnel receiving a bribe from two young men surfaced.
According to police officials, the matter came to the notice of City Police Officer Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera after the citizen formally complained about corruption at the police station. The complaint was followed by an inquiry, and police said the allegations were found to have substance before further action was ordered.
The officials accused in the case were suspended and taken into custody after the inquiry findings. Police said the action was not limited to internal disciplinary proceedings, as a criminal case was also registered against the personnel allegedly involved in the incident.
Station House Officer Dhamial Sub-Inspector Anwarul Haq was also suspended and charge-sheeted over negligence of duty. The move indicates that senior command treated the matter not only as an allegation against individual personnel but also as a failure of supervision within the police station.
CPO Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera directed that the case be registered without delay and that the accused officials be arrested. He said misconduct, misuse of authority and corruption within police ranks would not be accepted, particularly where citizens’ trust in law enforcement is directly affected.
The case became more prominent because of a video that reportedly showed police officials taking Rs150,000 from two young men travelling towards Chakri Road. The footage pushed the incident beyond a routine departmental complaint and turned it into a public accountability issue, with the viral nature of the clip increasing pressure for swift action.
Police corruption cases often draw public anger in Pakistan because citizens rely on local stations for protection, dispute resolution and legal assistance. When allegations involve roadside encounters or intimidation, they strengthen concerns about abuse of power and the vulnerability of ordinary people during interactions with law enforcement.
The Rawalpindi action comes at a time when video evidence and social media posts are increasingly shaping public responses to official misconduct. Viral footage has repeatedly forced departments to respond faster than traditional complaint channels, although legal proceedings still depend on formal inquiry, evidence collection and due process.
For Punjab police, the incident is a reminder that internal accountability mechanisms are being watched closely by the public. The case may also prompt renewed scrutiny of station-level oversight, complaint handling and the conduct of personnel deployed in public-facing roles.
The next stage will depend on the investigation and any court proceedings that follow the FIR. Authorities will be expected to establish the full facts, determine whether more officials were involved and show that disciplinary and legal action is completed rather than limited to an initial suspension announcement.