Case and counter case: Forest officials accused of torture, illegal detention

A local says a few years ago, Gallies Forest Division officials had unlawfully confiscated his stockpile of wood

ABBOTTABAD: A retired official of Pakistan Navy lodged a complaint with the Abbottabad police on Monday accusing officials of the forest department of implicating him in a fake case and subjecting him to torture.

Muhammad Sheraz, a resident of Khakhriala village, told City police station that a few years ago, some officials of Gallies Forest Division had unlawfully confiscated his stockpile of wood measuring over 200 feet which he had obtained based on legal permits.

He had even filed a petition with the District Court under section 22-A of the CrPc to register an FIR against the Forest officials.

While the case was still being tried by the Abbottabad bench of Peshawar High Court, on February 27, some officials of the Forest Division called him to their office for compromise. However, the official handcuffed Sheraz, detained him illegally for two hours and beat him.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7^th, 2017.