The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Thursday expressed grave concern over the harassment of lawmakers at the hands of the police on the night of May 25 (PTI’s Azadi March), seeking records of all cases and police officers.
On that day, the police raided the houses of several PTI leaders in Punjab and Karachi and arrested some of them.
Apprising the committee’s meeting, chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz, of the harassment, Senator Waleed Iqbal said, “The police broke down the gate and entered my house in Lahore. They grabbed the security guard and questioned him about me.”
Two days after the incident, Senator Iqbal said, the Punjab IG apologised on the phone.
Committee Chairman Aziz asked, “Why did the police go to his (Senator Iqbal’s) house even though they knew about him.”
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The committee members expressed concern over absence of Punjab police officers during the meeting.
They warned that if the Punjab police officers did not attend the committee’s meeting in the future, the matter would be sent to the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges.
On the matter of Anchorperson Imran Riaz being harassed by the police, Senator Shibli Faraz said, “Unidentified persons are registering cases against us.”
Senator Shehzad Waseem said, “We thought such things were over but that did not happen. And such incidents are on the rise.”
Senator Waseem said the officer concerned regarding the harassment should be summoned.
Meanwhile, the Karachi deputy inspector general of police appeared before the committee and apprised it of the action taken in Sindh’s capital city.
“Three anti-terrorism cases were registered in Karachi in connection with the Azadi March,” he said. “Cases were registered for setting fire to a police vehicle and injuring a superintendent of police. The case is in court. The court can remove the section if it wants.”
On concerns regarding police’s mistreatment of Baloch children during protests, the DIG said, “The matter is being investigated. Action will be taken against the officials involved.”
He said that MPA Shabbir Qureshi was arrested after informing the speaker.
“Arrest is necessary for some immediate evidence which is why MPA Qureshi was held,” he said, adding that he was not be abused in any way.
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