The medico-legal officers of medico-legal section at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) where 70 percent of Karachi's medico-legal cases are reported have been accused of collecting bribe from visitors. The Medico-Legal Officers known as MLOs have been accused of harassing mainly those who are found involved in minor crimes. They extract money from them for facilitating their early release from police custody.
It is pertinent to mention that one particular MLO from the MLO section has earned the reputation of maintaining "very strong" contacts with various police stations from where complainants are referred to him for the issuance of fake medical certificates to help them make strong cases against their opponents or enemies, it is reliably learnt.
Syed Muhammad Abid Ali, a resident of Shamsi Society, Malir Halt, who was reportedly beaten up brutally by his neighbour over a minor issue, narrated his ordeal: "A few days ago I visited JPMC medico-legal section to obtain medical certificate to file a case against my neighbour, where an MLO demanded Rs 20,000 for making a strong case against my neighbour."
He added: "Before I visited the MLO section at JPMC, I went to Alfalah police station to register a case, where a Sub-Inspector advised me to contact a particular MLO for making a strong case against my neighbour for further action." He said when he reached the JPMC, that particular MLO demanded money from him and that amount was out of his reach.
He said: "That MLO told me that he would make a report and on the basis of it, the police would book my enemy within an hour but when I refused to pay money, he said my neighbour is not his enemy, so why he should make a strong case against him. When I said that I could not pay Rs 20,000 to him, he gave me his mobile number and directed me to come to him next day with money," he claimed.
Another man, who requested anonymity, and was brought to the same MLO's room after he was caught by Darakhshan police from Badar Commercial Area on charge of alcohol consumption, told Business Recorder that the same MLO harassed him and demanded money, when police official informed the doctor about his condition.
He said the policemen, who wanted to book him on the charge of consumption of alcohol had acknowledged that he had Rs 28,000 in his pocket. But the MLO demanded a payment of Rs 50,000 from him. After accepting, albeit reluctantly, Rs 28,000 from him, the policemen asked him to leave. When the police officials themselves came out from the MLO's office, they released him without any action.
That MLO told Business Recorder that not he but two other doctors had demanded money from both the visitors. He also claimed that those two doctors had also given his cell phone number to the two visitors. "Everybody makes money in this country. If someone offers me chai paani (bribe), I will also accept it," he said. The doctors named by the MLO could not be immediately reached for their comment.