For assaulting cop: Court issues arrest warrants for Bokhari

Islamabad bar announces strike against FIR

ISLAMABAD: A local court in Islamabad has issued arrest warrants for the Senate’s former chairman and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nayyer Hussain Bokhari for allegedly assaulting a policeman.

Bokhari and an unidentified person were booked by Islamabad police on Wednesday after he and his companion allegedly abused and assaulted a policeman deputed at an entrance of the capital’s F-8 district courts. The incident occurred when the policeman, Muhammad Riaz, tried to frisk Bokhari.

Following the incident, Margalla police registered an FIR against Bokhari and his unnamed security guard for assaulting and obstructing a public servant. Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the PPC, a non-bailable offence, was added to the FIR.

Civil Judge cum Judicial Magistrate Islamabad (West) Jawad Hussain Adil on Thursday issued Bokhari’s arrest warrants. Margalla SHO Asjad Mehmood appeared before the magistrate and obtained the arrest warrants.

A police officer, requesting anonymity, said the man who had attacked the policeman and who was initially said to be Bokhari’s security guard was in fact his son, Jarar Hussain Bokhari.  However, no arrests were made when this report was filed on Thursday evening. Bokhari was also not available for his comment.

Lawyers support Bokhari

Lawyers rallied behind the Senate former chairman, who is not only a member of the district bar but has also been elected its president thrice. The Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) announced a strike against registration of an FIR against Bokhari.

IBA President Syed Mohammad Tayyab said there was no need for registration of an FIR after Bokhari personally apologised to the policeman and settled the matter.  “We condemn registration of an FIR against Bokhari and demand withdrawal of the case,” he said.

However, not all lawyers agreed with the bar president. Talking to The Express Tribune, a group of young lawyers condemned Bokhari for insulting a police official deputed for their own safety. Many police officials deputed at the courts were not happy with the treatment meted out to their colleague, and welcomed registration of a case against Bokhari.

Victim cop transferred

The policeman, Muhammad Riaz, has been assigned some other duty and relocated from the district courts. A police official said Riaz was transferred because there was fear that lawyers could attack him again.

Correction: In an earlier version of this article, it stated that non-bailable arrest warrants were issued. The error has been amended and is regretted. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2016.