Three personnel of the Anti-Narcotics Force posted at the Islamabad airport were suspended after a traveller made a video of them taking a bribe, the ANF said in a statement issued Friday.
“…the video viral on social media implicating ANF officials in illegal gratification is being scrutinised through a very high-level inquiry to ascertain the facts and apportion blame,” it stated.
In the video, shared by many including TV show host Iqrarul Hassan on his verified Twitter account, shows two men speaking to a passenger at the Islamabad airport while going over the person’s luggage.
“This is too much. Take one shopping bag, and leave one behind,” says the ANF official, whose badge says Asim.
Then he takes a conspiratorial tone while saying: “You want to take them along. Will you do some ‘khidmet’?”
Khidmet in this instance was a euphemism for an illegal payment.
Unbeknowst to these officials, the traveller was recording the exchange on his cell phone - seemingly in his shirt’s breast pocket.
One of the official then ells the traveller to take out his passport and ticket. They seemingly had a set routine, as one of them tells the traveller to say that he was taken for a body x-ray if anyone asks.
“What will you tell them?” confirms one of them again, while the traveller replies with body x-ray.
The video then cuts to another room, where a third official can be seen. This is believed to be the body x-ray room.
“Don’t you have any euros? Don’t you have anything else?” asks the official.
In this time, Asim pops a cigarette in his mouth as the questions about money continue.
“How much will you give?”
By this point, the exchange has taken place with Asim visibly counting the Pakistani currency that he was able to take from the traveller.
“I have to get some food,” the traveller says. The text on the screen, most likely put up the traveller who recorded the video, says that the ANF personnel returned Rs200 so that he could get himself something to eat.
“Is that okay? Any objections,” asks Asim before concluding his business.
At this point, one of the officials tells the passenger not to leave the room immediately. “Leave after two minutes. Don’t leave straight away.”
The ANF said in a press release: “In line with work ethics of ANF characterised by integrity and professionalism, the video viral on social media implicating ANF officials in illegal gratification is being scrutinised through a very high-level inquiry to ascertain the facts and apportion blame.” Till finalisation of the inquiry, the concerned officials have been suspended, it added.
