MPA, supporters free suspect in ‘counter raid’
By
The Newspaper's Staff Correspondent
Published a day ago
The intruders also got released the arrested man. — File photo
FAISALABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Rana Shoaib Idrees allegedly attacked Khurrianwala police station along with his supporters, thrashed three on-duty policemen and freed a man arrested from his outhouse in a raid.
According to sources, Khurrianwala police late on Friday raided the MPA’s outhouse to arrest a PO, Iqbal, carrying Rs100,000 head money on charges of being involved in a case of terrorism, murder and attempt to murder.
The sources said during the raid the PO could not be found at the outhouse but the police arrested his brother Zulfiqar, also wanted in some criminal cases, besides recovering a Kalashnikov and ammunition from there.
On being informed of the raid and the arrest, sources said, the MPA, along with dozens of his supporters besieged the police station and started chanting slogan against the police officials. They also pelted the police station building with stones, they added.
‘N’ lawmaker annoyed by raid on his outhouse also ‘thrashes’ cops; 30 held on CM’s order
Sensing the situation, policemen closed the main gate of the police station. However, some of the MPA’s supporters managed to open the gate.
The sources said, the MPA, along with his supporters entered the police station and brutally thrashed three on-duty policemen.
The intruders also got released the arrested man.
Lawyers help suspect flee
The sources said the MPA was later pacified by police officers through negotiations after which he and his supporters dispersed.
They said the MPA also wanted back the weapons recovered from his outhouse during the raid, but the demand was rejected by police officers.
Earlier, a case of attacking policemen and threatening them with dire consequences had been registered against the MPA and others on Jan 28, 2013.
On July 19, 2013, the MPA and his 10 henchmen had allegedly gunned down a man, Noor Ahmed, of Chak 187-RB and injured a man, Afzal, when they had a clash with their rival Ijaz alias Juji group over possession of a van stand at Jhumra.
Though CCTV cameras had been installed at the police station, the violence and hooliganism by the MPA and his accomplices could not be recorded due to a power outage, the police said.
City Police Officer Dr Haider Ashraf told Dawn he had ordered a probe into the incident and a committee comprising two senior officers -- SSP (operations) and SP (investigation) -- had been formed for the purpose.
No case has so far been registered against any of the suspects who attacked the police station. Any action against the suspects would be taken in the light of the inquiry report, the sources said.
They said police had raided various places and picked some of the protesters.
Former senior provincial minister Raja Riaz Ahmed, commenting on the incident, criticised the approach of the MPA and said, “what would happen in Pakistan if lawmakers would turn lawbreakers”.
He said instead of attacking the police station along with his supporters, the ruling party MPA should have informed senior police officers about his grievances, if any.
Meanwhile, on the orders of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif more than 30 people were arrested for involvement in hooliganism at Khurarianwala police station and thrashing policemen there.
According to a handout issued on Saturday, the CM taking notice of the incident also sought a report from the Faisalabad regional police officer (RPO) on the alleged hooliganism by his party MPA Rana Shoaib and his supporters.
The chief minister directed the officer that the accused involved in injuring the police officials during hooliganism at the police station be immediately arrested and legal action taken against them.
He also ordered best treatment facilities for the police officials injured in the incident.
Published in Dawn, July 20th , 2014
MPA, supporters free suspect in ‘counter raid’ - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
