After outrage, judicial probe ordered into stripping of man by police

Report to be submitted to PHC chief justice within 15 days

PESHAWAR: The provincial government on Thursday ordered a judicial inquiry into the torture and abuse of Rafiullah alias Amir of Tehkal by some police officers.

The case will be sent to the Peshawar High Court’s Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth within 15 days and the report will be made public within a month, said Adviser to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir on Thursday.

He added that the inquiry will be conducted under the K-P Tribunal of Inquiry Ordinance under the supervision of a senior judge of the provincial top court.

Amir, who is an Afghan national but currently resides in the Tehkal area of the provincial capital, was seen abusing local police station officials, Peshawar district police officials and many others inside a room sitting with his friends in an intoxicated state. That video surfaced on June 19 and quickly went viral.

Police subsequently raided his home and arrested him on charges of drugs possession. Later, a video was released by the police where Amir was seen apologising for what he had said and at the same time praised police for their ‘hospitality’.

On Wednesday morning, another video, reportedly shared by police officers, surfaced which left everyone in a state of shock. The video showed Amir being pushed and stripped of his shirt and trousers exposing his body parts. A few hours later, a third video was shared–again reportedly by police–where Amir could be seen paraded naked and being asked to move in a circle so that his body is recorded. Amir could also be seen repeating after the cameraman who raped his sisters.

In less than an hour, social media networks were flooded with posts in support of Amir and against police for misusing their powers.

That afternoon, K-P Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Sanaullah Abbasi took notice of the incident. In a subsequent statement from SSP Operations Zahoor Afridi, three police personnel of the Tehkal Police Station, including the station house officer (SHO), were suspended while an inquiry was ordered and a report sought in 24 hours.

As soon as the video reached members of the parliaments, the issue was raised in the provincial assembly - which is currently in session to debate the budget for the fiscal year 2020-21. Opposition lawmakers demanded strict action against the police personnel involved in the incident.

Separately, the K-P Bar Council Vice-chairperson Shahid Raza said lawyers across the province will not appear before courts to protest police brutality.

Meanwhile, Afghan Consul General in Peshawar Najibullah Ahmadzai met with the K-P IGP where the former was briefed about the incident.

Ahmadzai thanked K-P government for taking immediate notice of the incident, adding that both countries enjoyed brotherly relations were at the same time reiterated his commitment to take joint steps to further enhance relations based on respect and dignity.Protests seek justice

On Thursday, hundreds of protesters blocked the Sher Shah Suri Road near the K-P Assembly and staged a protest demonstration demanding justice for Amir.

They said justice must be done as the victim was treated inhumanely by the police.

Protesters blocked the road for all kinds of traffic and chanted slogans against the police. People from all walks of life including supporters of different political parties and members of the civil society gathered outside Peshawar Press Club and marched towards the provincial assembly.

Protests were also held in Swabi, Charsadda, Mardan and other parts of the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2020.