CDA officer skips security picket, runs over cop

Driver arrested after he crashed his car into gates of presidency, Cabinet block

ISLAMABAD: Police and security officials panicked for a moment after a car jumped a security picket in the Red Zone and rammed into the gates of Aiwan-e-Sadr (presidency) and the Cabinet block on Monday.

Police said they signalled a white Corolla Car (AAH-250) near Pak Secretariat but the driver did not stop and sped away.

The police informed their colleagues posted at the gate of the presidency about the car. The policemen closed the gate and signalled the car to stop.

The car did not stop and ran over a constable, Mansoor Shah, and rammed through the gate of the presidency.

The car then turned to the Cabinet block and brought down one side of the main gate.

It finally stopped after hitting and dragging a barrier on the road.

Police arrested the driver, who was identified as Mushtaq Ahmed Baloch, who the police said worked as a director in the Capital Development Authority (CDA)’s G&H Lab.

He told the police that the vehicle’s brakes had failed.

Police have booked him for attempted murder, damaging property and obstructing public servants in discharge of their duty.

The police constable was admitted to Polyclinic hospital with injuries and was discharged on Tuesday.

The car was also badly damaged and has been confiscated by the police.

The suspect was produced before Judicial Magistrate (West) Syed Haider Shah on Tuesday and was remanded into police custody for three days.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2016.