ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad traffic police have been investigating alleged issuance of a driving license to a blind person, a traffic police spokesperson said on Sunday, days after a local news channel made the exposé during a sting operation.
The exposé, led by Iqrarul Hassan who hosts ‘Sar-e-Aam’ show on ARY News channel, this week revealed that driving licenses were being issued in Islamabad without proper theoretical and driving tests, or medical examination in exchange for bribes, which raised serious concerns about public safety on the capital city roads.
For the show, Sar-e-Aam team had contacted through an agent an Islamabad traffic police official, who promised to issue a driving license without any theoretical, medical, or driving test. They successfully obtained the license by paying Rs30,000 ($107) and having someone else undergo the medical test on behalf of the blind applicant.
“The incident is currently under investigation, which will be concluded in the next two days and strict action will be taken against all those involved, including Muhammad Talha, the traffic police officer seen in the video,” Nafees Iqbal, the Islamabad traffic police spokesperson, told Arab News.
He said they were verifying facts regarding the young man, who claimed to be blind.
“Preliminary findings suggest that his condition may not be as portrayed in the media and he may not be entirely blind,” Iqbal added.
Arab News reached out to Sar-e-Aam host Hassan and his team, but they did not respond to calls and messages for a comment on the matter.
The traffic police spokesperson said they would share findings of their probe with media upon completion of the investigation in the next few days.
“Upholding the prestige and integrity of the Islamabad traffic police is of utmost importance to us,” he added.
Additionally, he said, strict measures had been taken to curb agent mafias, who act as intermediaries in such matters, and model police service centers were operating for the facilitation of public, including the issuance of driving licenses.
“Further action will be taken based on the inquiry team’s recommendations,” Iqbal added.
Corruption in public sector organizations is a major concern for the South Asian nation, with Pakistan ranking 133rd out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index in 2023.
According to the findings of the National Corruption Perceptions Survey 2023, the police department remained the most corrupt institution, followed by tendering and contracting and the judiciary at third position.
Islamabad traffic police investigate alleged issuance of driving license to blind person
https://arab.news/8rmjz
Islamabad traffic police investigate alleged issuance of driving license to blind person
- In a sting operation, local news channel showed the blind person got the license in return for a bribe of Rs30,000 ($107)
- Traffic police say an investigation, set to conclude in the next few days, will lead to strict action against those involved
Pakistan says it seized 32 square kilometers inside Afghanistan as border clashes escalate
- Security official describes ‘limited tactical action’ in Gudwana after Afghan assaults
- Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militants as UN, China and Russia urge restraint
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has seized a 32-square-kilometer area inside Afghanistan following overnight fighting, a security official said on Saturday, as cross-border clashes between the two countries escalated sharply.
A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troops carried out a “limited tactical action” in the Gudwana area opposite the Zhob sector along the frontier, capturing Afghan territory after responding to attacks on Pakistani positions.
“On the night of Feb. 26/27, posts opposite the Zhob sector launched anticipated physical attacks on multiple Pakistani positions,” the official said, referring to fighters linked to Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, whom Islamabad identifies as Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA).
“In response to aggressive unprovoked fire and physical attacks, Pakistan security forces launched a limited tactical action on the night of Feb. 27/28 in the general area of Gudwana with a view to capture TTA Tahir Post,” he continued, adding that 32 square kilometers of Afghan territory were seized.
The official said special combat teams crossed the border after preparatory bombardment, supported by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets providing “real-time battlefield awareness.”
He said 24 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and 37 wounded, with no Pakistani casualties reported.
The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Taliban authorities in Kabul of any territorial loss in the Gudwana area.
The latest clashes erupted after Pakistani airstrikes targeted what Islamabad described as militant hideouts inside Afghanistan over the weekend, triggering retaliatory fire along the frontier and sharply escalating long-running tensions. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering Pakistani Taliban militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation that Afghanistan denies.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday evening that 352 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 535 wounded since the latest phase of hostilities began.
Tarar said Pakistani strikes had destroyed 130 check posts, 171 tanks and armored vehicles and targeted 41 locations across Afghanistan by air. Those figures could not be independently verified.
The United Nations, as well as China and Russia, have called for restraint.
The United States said Pakistan has the right to defend itself against cross-border militancy.
