SHC exposes $80,000 bribery scandal involving Karachi police

KARACHI: Shocking details have emerged in a bribery case involving Karachi police, where officers have accused American citizen Zafarullah Merchant of embezzling $80,000, leaving the Sindh High Court in a state of no confidence.

According to the petitioner’s lawyer, Zafarullah Merchant was allegedly harassed by Sub-Inspector Nadeem Akhtar Butt and Constable Asif Noor Khan and extorted $80,000 from him by threatening to implicate him in fake cases.

The incident is allegedly linked to a property dispute in Garden West, where the opposing party allegedly exploited police contacts to pressure Merchant.

In a disturbing development, the police department’s legal representative, DSP Legal, revealed that Constable Asif Noor Khan has no official record with the Central Police Office.

His current posting and service history could not be ascertained, raising serious concerns about administrative oversight.

The court expressed concern over the apparent collusion between the accused and questioned the integrity of the police command structure.

Justice Nisar Ahmed Bhambro remarked that there seems to be a network within the department that is protecting the accused.

One of the accused, Sub-Inspector Nadeem Akhtar, expressed his intention to walk out of court with the complainant.

The court has given seven days to both the parties for talks.

However, Justice Nisar Ahmed Bhambro warned that if no agreement is reached, departmental action will be initiated, along with a direction to the Inspector General of Police Sindh.

The court also directed the Central Police Office to ensure that the complainant is not subjected to any kind of harassment. It stressed that immediate disciplinary action should be taken against the officers responsible at Soldier Bazar Police Station for any such action.

The case was officially referred to the Inspector General of Police Sindh for a departmental inquiry.