Police release architect

KARACHI: A case involving an altercation between police and a noted architect and philanthropist outside the house of the Sindh Home Minister has been resolved amicably after the charges were dropped on Wednesday.

On Tuesday night, it was reported that the architect got into a scuffle with the police outside the main gate of the home minister’s house in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) over the presence of security barriers on 23rd Street main Khayaban-e-Mujahid. The architect, who lives two streets from the minister’s house, was driving back home when he encountered the roadblock.

Fearing a security breach, the police arrested the architect on charges of ‘disorderly behaviour’, after which he was taken to the Darakshan Police Station for questioning regarding the incident. Following initial questioning, the architect was taken to the Civil Hospital where a medical examination was carried out.

The home minister later visited the Darakshan police station personally, where he was briefed on the situation - and told that the matter was a misunderstanding, and that there was no actual intent to attack the minister’s house.

Following the clarification of the matter, the architect was released on Wednesday evening by the police. Though the matter has been resolved, the issue of security blockades remains a testy one across the country. With the heightened level of threats to public figures in the wake of several attacks, there has been heavy security put in place often involving the blocking or picketing of public roads - such as the one outside the home minister’s residence.

Amid such a situation, residents of many areas where public figures reside have complained of immense inconvenience.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2010.