PML-N's Nehal Hashmi, sons booked for assaulting cops

Hashmi accuses police of manhandling his wife

KARACHI:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former senator Nehal Hashmi was arrested and booked along with his sons for allegedly assaulting and abusing police officers in Saudabad on Friday night. A police inquiry has been launched into the matter after the law enforcers were accused of manhandling the family.

Hashmi's son Naseer's car had reportedly collided with a motorcycle, following which he started a fight with the motorcyclist. When the police arrived and attempted to mediate, Naseer was allegedly enraged and began threatening the law enforcers.

The police subsequently took Naseer, a barrister, to the police station, where Hashmi, his wife Dr Nishat and his other son Faheem soon arrived. According to the police, both Faheem and Naseer assaulted police officers and tore their uniforms.

Hashmi and both his sons were later arrested and booked in a case on behalf of Saudabad SHO Rana Haseeb, for allegedly threatening him with murder.

Meanwhile, PML-N workers staged a protest outside the police station, shouting slogans against the law enforcers and demanding the arrested men's release.

Among the protestors were lawyers who claimed they had come to collect a copy of the FIR in order to pursue the case, but the police was not allowing them to enter. They appealed to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Sindh IGP Mushtaq Mahar to take notice of the issue and order the officials to open the gates of the police station.

They further accused police personnel of using abusive language against Hashmi and his wife.

Meanwhile, Dr Nishat told the media that police officials had pushed her to the ground, snatched her mobile phone and misbehaved with her, adding that she was detained until 4pm.

Advocate Javed Mir said a complaint seeking the registration of an FIR on Dr Nishat's behalf had been forwarded to the relevant SP, while another complaint had been filed for her and Naseer's medical examination. However, he claimed, the police were refusing to register the FIR or issue the letter for the medical examination.

Hashmi, in a statement issued from the police station, said a video showing his son beating a police official was filmed when the police had pushed his wife to the ground. According to him, he and his wife had asked an official in plainclothes why Naseer had been detained, but the man tried to snatch Dr Nishat's phone and injured her.

On Saturday, Korangi SSP Faisal Abdullah Chachar, while taking notice of the incident, ordered a departmental inquiry against the police officials accused of manhandling the Hashmi family. SHO Haseeb and constables Raja Ikram and Amanullah will face the inquiry and will be punished in line with the law if found guilty, he added.

Released on bail

On Saturday morning, a local court granted bail to Hashmi and his sons, directing the police to submit the case challan within 14 days.

A police official informed the court that Hashmi had attacked the police and interfered in state affairs, while Hashmi claimed the law enforcers had misbehaved with his family.

The court accepted the bail pleas of Hashmi and his two sons against surety of Rs20,000 each.

The court sought a progress report at the next hearing after investigating the matter. It further directed the investigation officer to identify those responsible for the incident.

Claiming that the police had interfered in the argument between Naseer and others when it was almost resolved, Hashmi's counsel blamed the federal government for the incident.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Bar Council and Karachi Bar Council announced a boycott of the courts in protest.