On Tuesday, 16th July 2013, I started from Karachi with a full tank of my Suzuki Cultus. Having Rs. 11000 in my pocket, I expected to arrive at Multan with enough money spared. But when I got home, I had only 50 rupees in my pocket. All the credit goes to Sindh Police. After experiencing the atrocities & malice of Sindh police, I have decided never to go to Sindh again.
Coming back to Multan, when I reached Hyderabad Toll Plaza, a police patrol car stopped me and another Punjab-number plate car with a family in it. There were total 5 policemen there, one policeman went to the other car and one came to me and asked for the car registration; I gave it to him. Then he asked for license, I gave him my computerized LTV driving license issued by Multan traffic police. Then he asked for the authority letter as the car was not mine but allotted to me by the company I worked for; I gave him the authority letter. Then he asked me for the NOC (No Objection Certificate).
Puzzled, I asked him what kind of NOC? He said the NOC to enter Sindh. I expressed my ignorance of any such document and told him that I had travelled half of the Khyber Pakhtunkhawh the week before and no one had stopped me there and no one asked for the NOC to visit a province of Pakistan. I have not entered another country but just another area of the same country.
But the policemen told me to show him NOC or give him 4500 rupees as a bribe. It was like stepping on a bomb. After much nagging by me, the policeman snatched 2500 Rs. from me like a vulture.
In a devastated state-of-mind, I sat in the car and resumed the journey. Approximately 1 hour later, I could see another barrier on the N-5 with a police car near it. A policeman stepped forward and indicated me to pull over. I was wary because of previous experience, so I slowed the car just enough to make policeman believe that I am pulling over. And as soon as I was near him, I stepped on the accelerator and went ahead in full speed.
Going on the same national highway N-5, another 40 or 50KM ahead, there was another toll plaza. I slowed down and paid 25Rs. of toll. But as soon as I was out of the toll plaza, a police car was chasing after me. The started flashing their headlights behind my car but I didn't stop. Then they increased their speed, took over my car and forcefully made me stop. I stepped out of the car and had to go through the similar experience. The man behind steering of the police car had no uniform and his 2 fellows were in uniform and with guns. The man behind the wheel asked me for the Registration, License and Authority Letter, I showed those documents to him. Then he asked for the NOC. I gave him so many reasons, begged him to let me go as I had barely enough money for fuel, and told him that I expected respect for guests from Sindhi people. But he was not willing to listen to anything. He said in Urdu, "Mujhay kuch nai pata, mujhay paisay chahieyn bass". He told me to give him 3000 rupees or he will take all my documents away and then I will have to experience the court system of that strange land. After much nagging and begging I had to give him 1500 rupees.
Now this became routine, after every 50-60KM there was a police car, a barrier and policemen stopping Punjab-numbered cars and taking bribes from them in the name of NOC. After being robbed of four thousand rupees, I had resolved to take extreme measures and flew past every barrier. At many places they had their guns pointed at me and their vehicles chased me for many miles. Near Ghotki an armored police van chased me for more than 10 kilometers but I did not stop. Due to anxiety my brain was on the verge of explosion and I thought I would go mad and lose my senses any second now. I never had such horrible experience before.
When I crossed the border and entered Punjab near Sadiqabad, it felt like I had entered the paradise. When at last I reached home at night, I had only 50 Rs. in my pocket and I immediately fell into a fever and remained sick for more than 3 days due to the mental fatigue I had in Sindh.
Afterwards, when I told this to my friends in Karachi, they said, "Yes, it's a norm here and we are used to it. It happens to every Punjab number plate car which is going back to Punjab. They do not stop you when you are coming to Karachi, but when you are going back, they will certainly stop you for NOC, which nobody is aware of, and then they will rip you off." I myself noticed that they were only stopping the Punjab cars and paid no heed to Sindh number plates.
I hereby ask the IG Sindh Police, the Government of Sindh and the Pakistani government; what are you people doing in your offices when such hideous crimes are being committed in the territories you were supposed to manage. When Motorway Police is patrolling the highway, why your black police cars are roaming and looting on the same road? Have you, the civil servants-whatever your Grades may be, ever travelled on those highways and looked at the circumstances there--or do you only use airlines and helicopters? Because of your negligence and corruption, I had to flee from Sindh like a convict and experience the worst journey of my life.
Coming back to Multan, when I reached Hyderabad Toll Plaza, a police patrol car stopped me and another Punjab-number plate car with a family in it. There were total 5 policemen there, one policeman went to the other car and one came to me and asked for the car registration; I gave it to him. Then he asked for license, I gave him my computerized LTV driving license issued by Multan traffic police. Then he asked for the authority letter as the car was not mine but allotted to me by the company I worked for; I gave him the authority letter. Then he asked me for the NOC (No Objection Certificate).
Puzzled, I asked him what kind of NOC? He said the NOC to enter Sindh. I expressed my ignorance of any such document and told him that I had travelled half of the Khyber Pakhtunkhawh the week before and no one had stopped me there and no one asked for the NOC to visit a province of Pakistan. I have not entered another country but just another area of the same country.
But the policemen told me to show him NOC or give him 4500 rupees as a bribe. It was like stepping on a bomb. After much nagging by me, the policeman snatched 2500 Rs. from me like a vulture.
In a devastated state-of-mind, I sat in the car and resumed the journey. Approximately 1 hour later, I could see another barrier on the N-5 with a police car near it. A policeman stepped forward and indicated me to pull over. I was wary because of previous experience, so I slowed the car just enough to make policeman believe that I am pulling over. And as soon as I was near him, I stepped on the accelerator and went ahead in full speed.
Going on the same national highway N-5, another 40 or 50KM ahead, there was another toll plaza. I slowed down and paid 25Rs. of toll. But as soon as I was out of the toll plaza, a police car was chasing after me. The started flashing their headlights behind my car but I didn't stop. Then they increased their speed, took over my car and forcefully made me stop. I stepped out of the car and had to go through the similar experience. The man behind steering of the police car had no uniform and his 2 fellows were in uniform and with guns. The man behind the wheel asked me for the Registration, License and Authority Letter, I showed those documents to him. Then he asked for the NOC. I gave him so many reasons, begged him to let me go as I had barely enough money for fuel, and told him that I expected respect for guests from Sindhi people. But he was not willing to listen to anything. He said in Urdu, "Mujhay kuch nai pata, mujhay paisay chahieyn bass". He told me to give him 3000 rupees or he will take all my documents away and then I will have to experience the court system of that strange land. After much nagging and begging I had to give him 1500 rupees.
Now this became routine, after every 50-60KM there was a police car, a barrier and policemen stopping Punjab-numbered cars and taking bribes from them in the name of NOC. After being robbed of four thousand rupees, I had resolved to take extreme measures and flew past every barrier. At many places they had their guns pointed at me and their vehicles chased me for many miles. Near Ghotki an armored police van chased me for more than 10 kilometers but I did not stop. Due to anxiety my brain was on the verge of explosion and I thought I would go mad and lose my senses any second now. I never had such horrible experience before.
When I crossed the border and entered Punjab near Sadiqabad, it felt like I had entered the paradise. When at last I reached home at night, I had only 50 Rs. in my pocket and I immediately fell into a fever and remained sick for more than 3 days due to the mental fatigue I had in Sindh.
Afterwards, when I told this to my friends in Karachi, they said, "Yes, it's a norm here and we are used to it. It happens to every Punjab number plate car which is going back to Punjab. They do not stop you when you are coming to Karachi, but when you are going back, they will certainly stop you for NOC, which nobody is aware of, and then they will rip you off." I myself noticed that they were only stopping the Punjab cars and paid no heed to Sindh number plates.
I hereby ask the IG Sindh Police, the Government of Sindh and the Pakistani government; what are you people doing in your offices when such hideous crimes are being committed in the territories you were supposed to manage. When Motorway Police is patrolling the highway, why your black police cars are roaming and looting on the same road? Have you, the civil servants-whatever your Grades may be, ever travelled on those highways and looked at the circumstances there--or do you only use airlines and helicopters? Because of your negligence and corruption, I had to flee from Sindh like a convict and experience the worst journey of my life.
