Attack on senior cop: Arrest warrants out for Qadri, Imran

Protesters beat up SSP Asmatullah Junejo during sit-ins

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) issued on Tuesday non-bailable arrest warrants for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PTI) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, in connection with an attack on the then Senior Superintendent of Islamabad Police (SSP) Asmatullah Junejo during sit-ins.

The SSP was beaten up by the protesters on the Constitution Avenue. The incident took place on September 1, 2014, less than 24 hours after his first day on the job as the SSP Operations.

The ATC judge, Sohail Ikram, issued warrants for Khan and Qadri with the directions to the police to produce them before the court on June 20. Moreover, the court directed the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) to get the execution of warrants and in the case of non-execution; he shall personally appear before the court.

The Secretariat police had registered the case against several PTI and PAT workers for their alleged involvement in vandalism and attacking SSP Junejo.

The FIR was registered under sections 337-F, 353, 324, 382, 186, 147, 148, 152, 153 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, on the complaint of Sajjad Ahmed.

The complainant told the police that dozens of PTI and PAT workers attacked SSP Junejo on September 1, when he stopped them from entering the PM House. He said that several others were also injured by the protestors, who appeared to be trained for such attacks. He added that the protesters also snatched SSP’s wristwatch and his official weapon.

In November 2014, it was reported that the ATC had declared the suspects as absconders in the case and directed the police to arrest and produce them before the court. The police have yet to comply with the court orders.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2016.