7 arrested for using force against AC

Locals say if district administration involved police from the outset, the situation could have been avoided

HARIPUR: Police have arrested seven people for allegedly using force and abusing the Haripur assistant commissioner.

The district administrations learnt that some non-residents had arrived at the Ghazi Barrage in the district despite a ban on visitors during the Eidul Fitr holidays. Acting on the information, Assistant Commissioner Ghazi Ibrar and his staff went to the site and asked the visitors to vacate the site.

Instead of complying, the visitors allegedly used force against AC Ibrar and other staffers apart from abusing them.

Ibrar called in the police who arrested the seven suspects under Section 188, 186 and 33-NDMA.

The suspects were produced before a local court on Wednesday which sent them on judicial remand.

Locals said that if the district administration involved the police from the outset, the situation could have been avoided.

Meanwhile, the Haripur deputy commissioner said that they have banned the entry of visitors in the area for two months under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) while the district administration is bestowed with the powers of a magistrate. He added that the actions taken by Ibrar were in line with the rules.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2020.