ISLAMABAD: The police arrested a bootlegger on Wednesday, but were reluctant to act against his employer despite instructions from their higher-ups.

A police team deployed at the Bhadana Link Road, in the Noon police station area, intercepted a car in which a man and two women were travelling.

During a search of the vehicle, two liquor containers were recovered. All three individuals were taken into custody and shifted to the police station, where the women were freed.

Preliminary interrogation revealed that the man was a bootlegger, and disclosed his employer`s identity. Sources said the employer was operating from F-10.

When the matter was brought to the knowledge of supervisory officers at the Noon police station, officials were ordered to register a case against the bootlegger and the employer.

They said the Noon police were told that according to standard operating procedure (SOP), the police also booked the person from whom the drug or liquor was purchased when its transporter or user was arrested.

They said a case was registered against the bootlegger, but the individual operating the business was not nominated in the FIR which was a violation of the SOP. The suspect was also released on bail given by a local leader of a political party.

They said when the matter was brought to the supervisory officers` attention they reprimanded the station house officer and the investigating officer for not nominating the employer.

The officials assured their seniors that the employer would be nominated in the case diary.

The spokesperson for the inspector general of police was not available for comment despite repeated attempts.

The investigating officer, Assistant Sub-Inspector Qurban Ali was also unavailable for comment.