Lack of evidence: LHC directs police to stop harassing PAT man, his employees

They are accused of setting fire <br /> to Quaidabad police station.

LAHORE: Justice Kazim Raza Shamsi of Lahore High Court instructed police officials on Friday to stop harassing a Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) convenor and his employees.

Athar Hussain Shah, the petitioner, said Quaidabad police had registered an FIR against Shamsul Arifeen, a factory owner, and 300 unidentified people. Advocate Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry, the counsel for the petitioner, said the police had initiated proceedings against them after the Quaidabad police station was set on fire. He said they had accused them of setting the station ablaze as a reaction to the June 17 Model Town violence. Advocate Chaudhry said police teams had raided Arifeen’s factory and arrested his workers. He said the men were not connected with the case. Advocate Chaudhry said police had been harassing them without any reason as they were not affiliated with any political party.  He said police had also raided a restaurant owned by Arifeen and jailed its staff. Advocate Chaudhry said they had been released on bail. He told the court that a district and sessions court had directed police officials to stop harassing them. Advocate Chaudhry said they had disregarded the orders.

Justice Shamsi directed Khushab district police officer and Quaidabad station house officer to stop harassing them.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2014.