Police Clearance
Getting the Police Clearance was easier than I thought and a lot less expensive.
Turns out Tahir Bhai at the police station was simply an officer on duty and not related to the division that handles Police Certificates. He had also exaggerated about the number of trips I needed to take back and forth and the two week processing period.
But then again, even the division staff themselves were surprised how quickly our certificates came through, since the actual processing actually took no more than a day and half, so that I could collect it on Sunday morning.
Assistant Superintendent Mukhtar was the key liaison who made it all so easy. When I went to submit my testimonials and attached documents, he also gave me a CPLC form to fill out for verification. This is a key form that the Police department runs through official records and also double checks with the local police station (given below).
The three forms required for the Police Certificate (the one above and the two given in my previous post) are well guarded by officers who try to squeeze some juice before handing out a form to copy. However, ASI Mukhtar sb made no special demands and explained the process quite clearly. Basically, I was to fill out the CPLC form above and submit to Gulberg Thana. In the meanwhile my initial form, attached documents and photos as well as the witness testimonials forms were to be verified from my local police station before bringing back to Gulberg Thana. Within a day to two days on submitting these, I would receive my Police Certificates if there were no other issues.
So I took my documents back to the local police station which I had first approached. Thankfully, at the gate I met a police officer who was 'from the mohalla' and very friendly to people from my community. He got me to talk to Faisal, a young office worker who was just learning the ropes of being a government officer (and reaping the benefits). He explained to me that the applicant would have to come here in person, but if I would look out for his interests he could take care of that bit.
"The thing is that we just don't get paid enough round here" he explained. "You see that printer there? Well, it's mine and everyday I have to bring in my own supplies to keep things moving here".
After a few interruptions and some deliberate delays I told him that this was a straightforward case and we were good honest people. To add to that the police officer at the gate (Mubashar sb) vouched for me and I agreed to help him out just a tiny bit.
The tiny bit seemed good enough for him as he immediately sprang into action, stamping and signing the documents. He then forwarded the documents by hand to the senior police officer who called me in for questioning and verification.
"Where (the hell) do you live?"
"KDA apartments, sir"
"How long have you lived there?"
"Seven years, sir"
"Where (the hell) did you live before that?"
"In a house in front of the Technical College, sir"
At this point, the senior officer was nodding his head while looking me straight in the eye and he could make out I hadn't merely memorized a script.
"Is this your family?"
"Yes, sir"
"Which country are you headed for"
"Australia, sir"
"Well I wish you all the best, may God be with you"
I smiled and thanked the officer, then left the room. Faisal was pretty surprised and remarked that it never really goes so well in there.
With my documents ready and signed, I told Faisal I'd go collect his thank you gift from the car, but when I reached my vehicle I realized I was short-changed by a hundred and fifty or so.
"Should be okay, let me know if he gives you any trouble" - that was Mubashar sb, the policeman at the gate, when I explained to him my predicament.
So Faisal seemed slightly skeptical, but in front of the entire department I spoke loudly to his face and told him that I was short of a hundred and fifty, all I have left in the car is a twenty note I did not bring with me, I'm sure it won't be an issue. He was slightly embarrassed but he didn't give me any trouble, especially with Mubashar sb hanging around in the back, but he did tell me to bring around some printing paper if I could sometime.
"Gladly"
ASI Mukhtar was quite surprised when I brought back the documents in under an hour and remarked that it seemed uncannily fast. Nevertheless, it was past public dealing hours, so I would have to submit it the next day. He was scheduled for an off the day after so I was able to submit it on Friday and received the call from the department to collect it on Sunday morning.
On collecting the documents, Mukhtar sb said I was welcome to give him whatever I felt like. When I seemed hesitant, he said don't worry about it too much but the pleasant smile on his clean shaven, smooth and amicable face seemed to darken a bit. When I told him I probably owe Tahir, he didn't even seem to remember who the hell Tahir was in the first place and then told me to shrug it off since whatever I'd hand in would be in this department, that's all. So I pulled out a purple one and walked out with my docs. Not too bad, because I was expecting to pay a lot more to start with.
Mukhtar sb also said that I could call him if I ever needed to make any changes or corrections to the form. Unfortunately, I misplaced his number so I can't note it down here.
And if you're wondering if I ever went back to the local police station with a ream of printing paper - that indeed I did, much to Faisal's surprise.
Turns out Tahir Bhai at the police station was simply an officer on duty and not related to the division that handles Police Certificates. He had also exaggerated about the number of trips I needed to take back and forth and the two week processing period.
But then again, even the division staff themselves were surprised how quickly our certificates came through, since the actual processing actually took no more than a day and half, so that I could collect it on Sunday morning.
Assistant Superintendent Mukhtar was the key liaison who made it all so easy. When I went to submit my testimonials and attached documents, he also gave me a CPLC form to fill out for verification. This is a key form that the Police department runs through official records and also double checks with the local police station (given below).
The three forms required for the Police Certificate (the one above and the two given in my previous post) are well guarded by officers who try to squeeze some juice before handing out a form to copy. However, ASI Mukhtar sb made no special demands and explained the process quite clearly. Basically, I was to fill out the CPLC form above and submit to Gulberg Thana. In the meanwhile my initial form, attached documents and photos as well as the witness testimonials forms were to be verified from my local police station before bringing back to Gulberg Thana. Within a day to two days on submitting these, I would receive my Police Certificates if there were no other issues.
So I took my documents back to the local police station which I had first approached. Thankfully, at the gate I met a police officer who was 'from the mohalla' and very friendly to people from my community. He got me to talk to Faisal, a young office worker who was just learning the ropes of being a government officer (and reaping the benefits). He explained to me that the applicant would have to come here in person, but if I would look out for his interests he could take care of that bit.
"The thing is that we just don't get paid enough round here" he explained. "You see that printer there? Well, it's mine and everyday I have to bring in my own supplies to keep things moving here".
After a few interruptions and some deliberate delays I told him that this was a straightforward case and we were good honest people. To add to that the police officer at the gate (Mubashar sb) vouched for me and I agreed to help him out just a tiny bit.
The tiny bit seemed good enough for him as he immediately sprang into action, stamping and signing the documents. He then forwarded the documents by hand to the senior police officer who called me in for questioning and verification.
"Where (the hell) do you live?"
"KDA apartments, sir"
"How long have you lived there?"
"Seven years, sir"
"Where (the hell) did you live before that?"
"In a house in front of the Technical College, sir"
At this point, the senior officer was nodding his head while looking me straight in the eye and he could make out I hadn't merely memorized a script.
"Is this your family?"
"Yes, sir"
"Which country are you headed for"
"Australia, sir"
"Well I wish you all the best, may God be with you"
I smiled and thanked the officer, then left the room. Faisal was pretty surprised and remarked that it never really goes so well in there.
With my documents ready and signed, I told Faisal I'd go collect his thank you gift from the car, but when I reached my vehicle I realized I was short-changed by a hundred and fifty or so.
"Should be okay, let me know if he gives you any trouble" - that was Mubashar sb, the policeman at the gate, when I explained to him my predicament.
So Faisal seemed slightly skeptical, but in front of the entire department I spoke loudly to his face and told him that I was short of a hundred and fifty, all I have left in the car is a twenty note I did not bring with me, I'm sure it won't be an issue. He was slightly embarrassed but he didn't give me any trouble, especially with Mubashar sb hanging around in the back, but he did tell me to bring around some printing paper if I could sometime.
"Gladly"
ASI Mukhtar was quite surprised when I brought back the documents in under an hour and remarked that it seemed uncannily fast. Nevertheless, it was past public dealing hours, so I would have to submit it the next day. He was scheduled for an off the day after so I was able to submit it on Friday and received the call from the department to collect it on Sunday morning.
On collecting the documents, Mukhtar sb said I was welcome to give him whatever I felt like. When I seemed hesitant, he said don't worry about it too much but the pleasant smile on his clean shaven, smooth and amicable face seemed to darken a bit. When I told him I probably owe Tahir, he didn't even seem to remember who the hell Tahir was in the first place and then told me to shrug it off since whatever I'd hand in would be in this department, that's all. So I pulled out a purple one and walked out with my docs. Not too bad, because I was expecting to pay a lot more to start with.
Mukhtar sb also said that I could call him if I ever needed to make any changes or corrections to the form. Unfortunately, I misplaced his number so I can't note it down here.
And if you're wondering if I ever went back to the local police station with a ream of printing paper - that indeed I did, much to Faisal's surprise.
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