Pakistan Railways Orders Crackdown on Land Grabbing, Smuggling

Inspector General of Pakistan Railways Police, Muhammad Wisal Fakhar Sultan, has issued an order mandating stringent measures against individuals occupying railway land and cargo companies implicated in smuggling illicit goods via trains. This directive emerged from a gathering of all Superintendents of Police (SPs) at the Central Police Office in Lahore, where the review of the police force's performance, crime landscape, and professional matters over the past six months was discussed.

According to the data shared during the meeting, the Pakistan Railways Police had filed 2,241 criminal cases and apprehended 2,581 suspects within the six-month span. Sultan emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation and the implementation of more potent strategies against criminal syndicates, while ensuring that all parties engaged in illicit activities face legal consequences, irrespective of their background.

He specifically instructed officers to dismantle organized syndicates and networks involved in smuggling contraband through trains. Furthermore, Sultan directed officers to pursue stringent legal action against private cargo firms found abetting or participating in smuggling operations, including the revocation of their licenses.