MPA-elect sent on five-day physical remand

He and his supporters allegedly involved in beating policemen in Hanjarwal

LAHORE: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) handed over eight accused persons to Hanjarwal police on a five-day physical remand.

The accused include PTI MPA Nadeem Abbas Bara, who surrendered to the police on Sunday. He was arrested for beating up policemen.

Hanjarwal police produced the accused persons before an ATC court where the investigation officer (IO) said the policemen were patrolling the area when the accused and his supporters were indulged in celebratory gunfire and aerial firing at the dera (guesthouse) of Nadeem Abbas Bara's cousin. When policemen tried to stop them, the accused, including 20 unknown men, held the policemen hostage and beat them up.



The IO contended the accused snatched their rifles and official wireless sets. They also damaged the police’s mobile van and later tried to set it ablaze, but officials foiled their attempt.

On the other hand, the counsel for the accused contended the court that a forged case had been registered against the MPA and his workers. The counsel claimed that they were not involved in the incident. He contended no incident of aerial firing occurred and no fireworks were released.

“Police arrested the accused persons to show their efficiency,” he said. The counsel said Bara surrendered to the police despite the fact that he had nothing to do with the case. The counsel further submitted that Bara and his workers were being subjected to political victimisation, which is regrettable.

Bara contended the court that no incident of aerial firing took place and police implicated them in a forged case. He further implored they did not celebrate the victory due to the sad demise of his grandmother.

However, the IO sought a 14-day physical remand of the accused. The ATC court handed the suspects to the Hanjarwal police on a five-day physical remand.

The FIR was registered by Hanjarwal police against 27 nominated persons, including PTI's recently elected MPA Nadeem Abbas Bara and other 25 unknowns under sections 324,148,149,186,353,395,436,511,427 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

They were accused of thrashing and injuring police officials, snatching their rifles and wireless sets, attempting to set ablaze a police van and resorting to aerial firing.

Bara has a criminal record

Bara, who was arrested yesterday for torturing policemen, has a criminal record, The Express Tribune has learnt.

At least nine cases are registered against him. The first case against him was registered in October, 2002. The complainant alleged that the accused, along with 18 accomplices, stopped construction work at his plot and also damaged his property.



Similarly, the second case was registered in 2007. The case was registered for violation of the Amplifiers Act, Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), terrorism and other charges. At that time, Pervez Musharraf had imposed an emergency in the country. The accused person, along with 200 others, had held a gathering and made speeches against judges and the government. The third case registered against him was for blocking Multan Road and making speeches against the government of Punjab and the provincial police.

The fourth case was also registered in 2010. The complainant had alleged that the accused had laid siege to the only exit point of the mohalla. The fifth case against the accused persons was registered for illegal detention, abduction and forcibly getting signatures on a stamp paper in 2010.

The sixth case was registered against him in 2011 for land grabbing. The seventh case was registered in 2012 for land grabbing and snatching ornaments and jewellery. The eighth FIR was registered against him in 2012 for assaulting and injuring a man.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2018.