ISLAMABAD:Gas cylinder vendors in Islamabad’s areas have accused personnel of Airport Police Station of taking Rs 10,000 in extortion.
The vendors said that police officials stopped them during routine checks and allegedly demanded money without any legal reason. They claimed the practice is affecting their business and creating problems for small traders in the area.
Protesting vendors demanded that senior police officials should take immediate notice of the incident and initiate an inquiry against the personnel involved.
They also urged the district administration to issue clear guidelines so that legal vendors are not harassed during inspections.
Police officials have not issued any statement regarding the allegations yet.
Islamabad’s Mumtaz city and surrounding areas have a large number of commercial gas cylinder vendors who supply to shops, hotels and households. In the past, traders have complained about frequent stoppages and alleged demands for bribes by law enforcement during vehicle checks.
After several gas cylinder blast incidents in the twin cities, authorities have increased monitoring of LPG dealers for safety violations. Vendors say while safety checks are needed, they should not be used as a pretext for extortion.
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