After 11 days: IGP forms probe body on PIC incident

Will give recommendations after review of CCTV footage, other evidence

LAHORE: After the lapse of 11 days of lawyers attack at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shoaib Dastagir has constituted a committee to submit its findings on the role and negligence of officers deployed at the hospital.

The committee will probe and identify the officers responsible for the negligence which led to chaos and ransacking of the PIC. The committee will also initiate inquiries regarding police deployment and their role in averting chaos and violence.

The committee, comprising of Additional IG Azhar Khokhar, DIG Imran Mehmood and AIG Athar Ismail will give its recommendations after a thorough review of CCTV footage, cell phone videos and other evidence available.

On December 11, 2019, the lawyers took out a rally from Aiwan-e-Adil against the torture on lawyers at PIC on November 23. The case of the incident was registered with Shadman police station, but no arrest was made.

Forensic investigation identifies 50 lawyers

The lawyers have been demanding the arrest of doctors involved in the incident and also pressed the authorities to register the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act. A group of lawyers, that travelled around five to seven kilometres, reached Regal Chowk where SSP Operation Mohammad Naveed and SP City tried to negotiate with them, but the talks were fruitless.

Negotiations were held again with lawyers near China Chowk, but there was no success. The infuriated mob of lawyers continued to make intimidating videos along the way while police officers tried to convince them to stop their march towards the PIC.

The situation turned ugly and a clash broke out when the lawyers reached the PIC in the presence of two SSPs and SSP operations. The lawyers entered into the heart hospital and ransacked the hospital and during all this chaos three patients died.

Two hours after the incident, DIG Operation Babar Saeed arrived and issued orders for baton charge and shelling.

The lawyers pelted the police contingent with stones and a police van was set on fire. Several lawyers were arrested and two cases were registered with Shadman police station. The plaintiff of one case was Lahore Police and the other case was registered the hospital administration.

The accused were presented before the court following the routine procedure of investigation and the raids are being conducted for the arrests of other accused.

DIG Investigation Dr Inam Waheed said so far 50 lawyers have been arrested with the help of forensic investigation and the National Database and Registration Authority.

He said scientific methods were being used to identify the accused who ransacked the hospital. Some lawyers have taken interim bail. This proved that police were active in its action against the suspects. He said the probe considers all the facts related to the incident.

On the other hand, the Anti-Terrorism Court has acquitted 87 lawyers from the case after because of not recognised in the identification parade. However, 24 lawyers have been handed over to the police for physical remand till December 23 for a photogrammetric test. Parties in the case have expressed concerns over irresponsibility and negligence of the police in connection with the attack on the PIC.

Former IGP Zulfiqar Cheema told The Express Tribune that the real goal of forming a committee would be fulfilled only if the probe was conducted impartially. “The committee must bring forth the truth and probe that if there was any dereliction of duty on the part of CCPO, DIG, SSP and officers,” he said. “Was it a matter of sheer negligence and mismanagement?”

He was of the view that the security arrangements were unsatisfactory. “Had the police beefed up security at the PIC, the clash could have been averted,” the former senior police officer remarked.

ATC grants bail to 17 lawyers

“The committee must not favour the police officers and play its role honestly.”

He also stressed that those who failed to perform their duty of maintaining law and order must face the music.

Cheema said the formation of committees has become a norm and action has also been taken against several officers. “Departmental action must be taken against officers in the light of recommendations of the committee,” he said.

Cheema stressed that an action against the negligence of duty was necessary to discourage such irresponsible behaviour in the future.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2019.