Anti-corruption campaign: JI demands inquiry into police ‘manhandling’

Clashes between police, supporters took place in a public gathering.

ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami on Saturday demanded provincial authorities to take action against the Punjab police officials who manhandled party workers during a public gathering in Faisalabad.

Clashes between the party workers and the local police took place on September 30 during JI’s public gathering where the security officials tried to check the weapon licences of JI leader’s security guards.

According to the police, the party had not obtained a no objection certificate from the authorities to hold a public gathering, where JI chief Sirajul Haq addressed the workers.

Criticising the provincial administration, JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch accused the authorities of trying ‘to disturb a huge planned gathering’.

The JI leader refuted the claims and told The Express Tribune that they had informed the local administration about the public gathering but ‘unfortunately, the police deliberately disturbed the gathering which was unfair’

Baloch added that the party was all set to hold another public gathering in Hyderabad today (Sunday).

On the one hand, provincial authorities claimed that police is not politicised but on the other hand its actions indicate otherwise, Baloch said and insisted that an impartial inquiry of the incident should be held

JI urged chief minister Punjab and Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Sukhera to look into the matter and initiate an inquiry.

It is noted that JI started an anti-corruption campaign in March earlier this year and the public gathering was a part of the party’s movement demanding an investigation into Panama Leaks.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2016.