Salman Rashid

Travel writer, Fellow of Royal Geographical Society

Food for Thought
30 June 2013

Some days ago, the English language paper that I read carried an item about a bank fraud. Two officers of some bank in Lahore, executed a heist of, if I recollect correctly, something over Rs 20 million. Now in common parlance that is TWO CRORE RUPEES! The money was drawn (note, I do not say misappropriated or stolen) from the account of a Deputy Superintendent Police. Now, a DSP rises through the ranks, that is, he enrolls as a common constable and makes his way up. Anyone who enrolls as a constable has to be from a poor family. There is no other way about it. Rich families send their sons to the Civil Services Academy where they run the full gamut before going off to some police college or the other. So, point to remember is the DSP came from a family of very limited means.

The news item said that the bankers were both arrested. Since our papers by habit never carry a follow up story, we do not know what happened to them next. But we can be pretty certain that since a policeman is involved, they must have got hell – perhaps still getting it. That’s all very fine. But has someone asked the DSP where he got this kind of money? Why, to have Rs 20 million taken from his account, the crook must have had an equal if not more still in the bank. And what about all his other bank accounts? Somebody really has to investigate where and how a poor police constable got this sort of wealth. But no one will. The bank officers will probably lose their jobs and the crooked, filthy cop will get his money back.

Now the Federal Board of Revenue tells us that they are going to investigate everyone’s bank accounts. Will they ask this dirty cop where he got his money? They will not. But they will come after you and me.

Labels: About, Pakistan

posted by Salman Rashid @ 12:40,

7 Comments:

At 30 June 2013 at 13:11, Arthur Anab Shams said...: Its so true. The authorities are all the time after people of limited means and connections. We may not be very sure of this DSPs means of collecting wealth but for sure those who have unfair means are unreachable by the law.
At 30 June 2013 at 13:39, Anonymous said...: The 'poor' DSP is pretty likely to get a notice from FBR. He is no ASP (equal in rank but inducted through CSS). And the babus who graduate from civil services academy (and there are too many in FBR) have a propensity to look down upon the people who make their way up from lower ranks.
At 30 June 2013 at 16:03, Saima Ashraf said...: It reminds me of a same story in my area of Bahawalnagar where dacoits broke into the walls of an SHO. 25 lac rupees were reported to be taken by them along with other household......Believe me I was so glad on the crime and the reason was the same you narrated. No one asked the SHO from where he got this much money while his salaray was 20k PKR that time and he had to feed 5 children family.
At 30 June 2013 at 20:53, Lahoremassagist said...: JUST TWO CRORS? Sir we are living in the age of NROs and Swiss Banking. What is two crors down the leader.
At 1 July 2013 at 10:42, Salman Rashid said...: Yes, the point is why is no one asking the cop where he got the money. Like you, Saima, I am very glad that this heist took place. All cops should be robbed.
Nayyar, mind, this is no politician. Just one hell of a rotten tulla.
At 3 July 2013 at 12:06, Anonymous said...: Doo you think a thoroughly corrupt system can catch corrupt officials? I thought the bad money is collected at this level and distributed as per "hissa baqadre jussa." Utterly sad. Jimshed
At 4 July 2013 at 14:52, Liaqat Baloch said...: Are you new here in Pakistan? This should not surprise you if you have lived here for some time.