Sindh IG dismisses Chinese claims of harassment by Sindh police

Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon has dismissed claims made by Chinese investors, alleging harassment by Sindh police, stating that no complaint of extortion has been reported in the entire province.

Six Chinese investors filed a petition in the Sindh High Court on Friday against alleged extortion and harassment by police in Karachi.

According to the complaint, the Chinese businessmen sought protection from the court over the "culture of bribe" in the Sindh police, asserting they may need to move to Lahore or return to their homeland if the situation persists.

Expressing their grievances, the Chinese complainants told the court that they, along with thousands of other fellow citizens, came to Pakistan after fulfilling all the legal requirements and investing a significant amount of money in various local business ventures.

They also expressed disappointment over the restrictions they faced in the name of security.

The details of repeated harassment over the last six to seven months were outlined. Among the concerns were unjustifiable restrictions on their movements, being detained, or "literally being locked" in their homes on the pretext of security without any clear legal reason.

In one incident, the Chinese nationals were released after paying bribes of Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000. The petitioners also recounted that the Sindh police had sealed the industrial units of other Chinese investors in the Sukhan area of Sindh for the same security reasons.

They accused the police of targeting their cars with stones, smashing the rear windows, and claimed they had to pay large sums for repairs. They also asserted that the deployed police officials were highly unprofessional and disturbed their privacy, demanding tips ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000.

The Chinese petitioners also revealed that they were not allowed to lodge FIRs against these offences. One petitioner mentioned that his translator was detained when he attempted to report a theft of two million rupees at his residence, and the police refused to register the FIR.

They requested the court to address their grievances and declare the alleged detention and movement restrictions illegal.

The two-judge bench of SHC, comprising Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha and Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon, has put the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, its consulate in Karachi, and federal and provincial law officers on notice.

Speaking to a private news outlet, IG Sindh police asserted that the movement of Chinese nationals has been significantly restricted due to security concerns. "We cannot compromise on the safety of our Chinese brothers," he said, reiterating that the steps taken are necessary to ensure their protection.

The police, however, are investigating the claims made by the Chinese nationals and are determined to address the related issues.