Fact-check: FIR confirmed. Police officer caught selling drugs in Multan

A first information report (FIR) has been circulating online, claiming that a police officer was caught selling drugs in Multan, Punjab, while using an official police vehicle. The claim has led some social media users to question its authenticity.

The claim is true.

Claim

On January 24, a social media user shared an FIR on Facebook, with the claim that police from Loralai district in Balochistan were arrested in Multan, Punjab, for selling drugs in an official police vehicle. The FIR details that, based on a tip-off, police in Multan arrested three individuals—one of whom was a head constable from Loralai—while the other two were private individuals. All three were found in possession of 1,000 grams of crystal meth (ice) and 1,000 grams of hashish.

The posts were shared widely across Facebook, and some users questioned whether the FIR was authentic and if the claim was true.

Similar claims were shared elsewhere on Facebook too here and here.

Fact

The incident did occur as described in the FIR, and it has been verified by several police officials.

Azhar Abbas, the sub-inspector at Gulgasht police station in Multan, confirmed to Geo Fact Check that on January 23, the police stopped an official vehicle for a check up. During the inspection, they found 1,000 grams of crystal meth and 2,000 grams of hashish. Three individuals were arrested, including a head constable from Loralai, as well as two private individuals.

Abbas also noted that the Loralai police had informed them that the vehicle in question belonged to the Loralai police lines.

Muhammad Ashfaq, another official at the Gulgasht police station in Multan, also confirmed that the three individuals arrested on January 23 were found with drugs. He stated that one of the arrested individuals was a head constable from Loralai.

Geo Fact Check further reached out to Ahmad Sultan, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) in Loralai, who said that the vehicle was indeed registered with the Loralai police department and that one of the arrested individuals was a head constable from the area.

Following the incident, Sultan stated that the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in Loralai had been suspended, and an internal inquiry was underway. Sultan further clarified that the vehicle had been taken without permission from the Loralai police lines.

Verdict: The claim circulating online is true, and the FIR is legitimate.

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