Heated discussion on social media results in bedlam, arrests by police

Suspect’s father gets involved, breaks into police station


Saleh Mughal July 21, 2019
PHOTO: FILE

RAWALPINDI: poIt seems that social media is fast emerging as a free for all forum to engage in discourse and open discussion on every subject under the sun with social, cultural, religious and above all, political issues, being debated and every Tom, Dick and Harry or Jane considering themselves proponents or opponents of a selected topic, jumping in the fray and expressing their point of view.

Usually the discourse is held in a civilized and sensible manner but at times people incapable of respecting other’s opinion stoop to such a level where profanities and personal insults take precedence and all civility is lost.

Recently, a quarrel on a social media website literally triggered a fight between two individuals in Rawalpindi which ended up with cases being registered against them.

Two youngsters exchanged some bitter vicious and hateful comments against each other on Facebook after which the matter took shape of a real brawl.

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The suspect’s father also got involved in the scene and broke into the police station for victim’s release and bedlam ensued causing destruction inside the police station and leaving a policeman injured.

The police registered a case against all miscreants under sections of terrorism which may lead to severe punishment.

According to the police, two acquaintances named, Faizan Butt and Hamza, indulged in a quarrel in comments sections of a Facebook Heated discussion on social media results in bedlam, arrests by police
post. Later, Hamza along with his companions, called on Faizan to discuss the matter where the heated arguments transformed into a fight resulting in exchange of fire. Faizan and his companions assaulted Hamza and handed him over to Westridge police. A few moments later, the suspect’s father, Saeed Butt, along with his accomplices also showed up at the police station and rebuked his son for involving police in the matter.

He requested police to release the victim which was immediately refused. Saeed then attempted to approach the lockup which was resisted by the police after which his accomplices launched an attack on police and destroyed computer and other equipment while injuring a constable as well. When the information was circulated, the police from other police stations rushed the site and arrested a few miscreants while others managed to escape.

The police registered a first information report (FIR) against Saeed along with his sons as well as other abettors under sections of Anti-Terrorism Act while Hamza was also made a respondent in FIR.

In this regard, the SP Potohar, Syed Ali, told on contact that Saeed Butt and others already had criminal record and were nominated in various cases.

He added that the police were conducting raids to arrest remaining suspects who caused destruction in the police station.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2019.

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