Six Chinese investors have filed a petition in Sindh High Court (SHC) accusing the Sindh Police of harassment and unjust restrictions on their movement.
The petition, lodged by Advocate Peer Rehman Mehsud, seeking legal intervention to address the mistreatment faced by the investors includes XU HUI, DENG HUAN, ZHANG LICHUN, ZENG FANXIONG, YANG ZHITA and LIUHAIGUANG.
The Secretary Home Ministry, Chief Secretary Sindh, Secretary Home Department, Inspector General Police Sindh, Additional IGP Sindh, DIG Police South Zone, SSP Malir, DIG Special Protection Unit China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), SSP, Special Security Unit (CPEC), Ministry of External Affairs, Chinese Embassy and Chinese Consulate has been made party in petition.
The petitioners stated that for the past six to seven months, the Sindh Police has been harassing them, including imposing unjustified restrictions on free movement.
The petitioners asserted that they and other Chinese nationals have been detained in their residences under the guise of security concerns. The Chinese investors alleged that the Sindh police officers stationed at their homes literally imprisoned them in their homes.
They further stated that in the last one month, this has been done sever time that police personnel have locked and even sealed their houses on the instructions of their officers and allowed them to move freely only upon paying bribes ranging from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000.
Chinese investors maintained that very unprofessional and corrupt policemen are deployed at their residences. They claimed that police personnel demand tip between Rs.15,000 to Rs.50,000 after some time and they also damage their cars, the video evidence of which can be provided to support the claims.
In addition, the petitioners disclosed to court that seven industrial units owned by Chinese nationals were sealed by the Sukkun police station without prior notice under the pretext of security concerns.
These investors, according to the petition, are now plaining either investing elsewhere, such as in Lahore, or leaving the country altogether.
Furthermore, the petitioners highlighted an incident before court, which happened in October 2024, when a theft of Rs.2 million occurred at one of the investor’s homes. Despite this, the local police station allegedly refused to register an FIR or pursue an investigation.
The petitioners also alleged that police have unlawfully detained the translators of the petitioners at various police stations without legal justification, and the petitioners have evidence to support this claim.
The counsel for the petitioners informed the court that six more Chinese investors, who also wish to be the party in petition, have been unable to appear due to unjustified restrictions by the Sindh Police/SPU officials, as a result the revision petition has been filed.
The counsel pleaded to the court to direct the concerned authorities to allow the rest of the Chinese investors to approach the court for redressal of their grievances. The SHC has issued a notice to the parties, seeking response within four weeks.
