Lahore: Touts increase charges for 'services' after CCPO orders crackdown

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Charges for providing fake witnesses in bail cases raised from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000

By Rana Tanveer

LAHORE: Following Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Pervez Rathore’s orders of stern action against touts and fake witnesses, the number of touts have decreased, but those still operating have increased their charges by over 300 percent, Daily Times has learnt.

It was observed that most touts had gone underground after the police started a crackdown against them. However, those still operating had started charging hefty amounts for their services. In the presence of touts, many people had started preferring their services to resolve matters concerning the court.

Lahore Bar Association President Rana Zia Abdul Rehman said fake witnesses were a hurdle in the way of justice. He said dangerous criminals had been released on bail by using their services.

Touts: The touts had been charging Rs 1,000 for providing the services of fake witnesses to bail out someone. Their charges had been increased to between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 after the CCPO’s orders.

They usually stand at entry points of the city’s courts and ask every non-lawyer about what he or she wants. They offer old stamp papers and copies of judicial files and revenue records. Some touts have even started providing their customers with new traffic licences at district courts. However, the services of a guarantor of fake witnesses were only being provided through lawyers.

A tout was observed demanding from a resident of Sheikhupura Rs 3,000 for providing him with a domicile of Lahore. When the client refused to pay the demanded amount, he said the charges had increased after the police started crackdown against them.

Another tout, on condition of anonymity, told Daily Times their charges had increased, as only a few people were still providing the services. He claimed to have spent two months in jail for his illegal services.

Advocate Irfan Ahmed told Daily Times that the judicial system in the country did not record the witness and his or her statements could be taken without fulfilling the legal requirements. He said this allowed a witness to provide guarantees to as many accused as he wanted.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg13_8