ISLAMABAD – A lawyer alleged that he was detained for several hours at a police station near Islamabad after being stopped at a checkpoint while carrying a legally licensed weapon, and that police officials demanded Rs200,000 for his release.
According to lawyer’s clip, the incident occurred on September 1, 2026, when he was travelling from Abbottabad to Islamabad. As he approached the Islamabad entrance from the Motorway, his vehicle was stopped at a picket reportedly falling within the jurisdiction of Sumbal Police Station.
آئی جی اسلام آباد کے نام پر رشوت وصولی، میاں خرم کے ہاتھوں مبینہ طور پر لٹنے والے شہری نے آڈیو پیغام جاری کر دیا،نیا IG خونخوار ہے، آڈیو پیغام میں میاں خرم کا حوالہ۔۔۔
شہری کی گاڑی سے لائسنس شدہ اسلحہ برآمد ہوا تھا۔۔@ICT_Police @MohsinnaqviC42 @muhammadzareef_ @mangat_saddam pic.twitter.com/isKcfm63mu— M.Usman Mughal (@UsmanMughalJou1) September 18, 2026
The lawyer said police officers asked whether he was carrying a weapon and whether he possessed a valid licence. He informed them that the weapon was licensed and subsequently produced the original weapon licence, his Bar membership card and ID card.
He said officers initially told him that his documents were in order but claimed that, under their “system”, the weapon had to be registered at Sumbal Police Station before he could proceed. The lawyer said he agreed to the registration process and accompanied the officials to the police station.
According to his account, at the police station he was presented along with the weapon and his documents before the officer on duty. He said the officer directed a police constable to take custody of the weapon and have him sit and wait for further instructions. The lawyer claims he repeatedly asked officials to complete the registration so that he could leave, telling them that he was already running late.
“Three or four times I asked them to complete the registration so I could leave,” he said, according to his account. “They kept telling me that the SHO would decide what to do.” He alleged that the SHO did not meet him personally and that his weapon was placed in a drawer while his cards and documents remained in police custody.
The lawyer said he was repeatedly refused a meeting with the SHO and was told that officials would act according to whatever instructions they received from him.
The most serious allegation in the account concerns an alleged demand for Rs200,000. The lawyer said that after being kept at the police station for several hours, police officials told him that the new Inspector General of Police had issued instructions that Rs200,000 should be taken from him before he was released.
According to the lawyer, he questioned the demand, asking what offence or legal basis justified the payment. He said officials allegedly responded that the previous practice under SHO Mian Khurram was to take Rs100,000, but that following the appointment of the new IG, Captain (Retired) Sohail Chaudhry, the alleged “strict order” was that no less than Rs200,000 should be taken.
The lawyer said he was stopped at approximately 3:30pm and remained at the police station until around 7:30–8:00pm, spending roughly five to six hours there. He maintained that he had produced the original licence for his weapon and identified himself as a practicing lawyer and member of the Bar.
According to his account, negotiations continued for several hours before he ultimately paid Rs100,000 and was released. The lawyer described the incident as harassment and questioned how ordinary citizens could be treated if a member of the legal community could allegedly be detained for hours despite producing what he says were valid documents.
The allegations raise several questions that warrant an official response: What was the legal basis for detaining the lawyer and retaining his licensed weapon and documents? Was registration legally required at the police station? Was any FIR, seizure memo or other official record prepared? And did any senior police officer issue instructions concerning a Rs200,000 payment?
Most importantly, the allegation that a senior police command ordered officers to collect a specific amount of money before releasing a citizen requires clarification from the police authorities.
The allegations raise serious concerns about Islamabad police conduct, detention procedures and alleged corruption at checkpoints. Police authorities have yet to provide their version of events.
