A five-member joint investigation team (JIT) comprising officers from police and intelligence agencies has been formed for a high-level probe into the incident of aerial firing during Basant the bullets from which hit a security vehicle belonging to the prime minister's cavalcade at the PAF’s Nur Khan airbase.
The festival of Basant was celebrated in the garrison city on February 24 amidst a ban by the government during which the kite flying enthusiasts also indulged in aerial firing and the use of loudspeakers.
Due to intense aerial firing, flight operations at the Nur Khan Airbase were suspended and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's departure to Lahore was delayed for several hours.
PM Shehbaz was supposed to leave for Lahore at around 6:00 pm, but like regular flights, his flight faced a delay of about three and a half hours.
Meanwhile, a stray bullet hit the roof of the security vehicle included in the convoy of the prime minister parked at the airbase. The driver of the vehicle, fortunately, remained unscathed.
However, strict notice was taken of the incident at the level of the Prime Minister's Secretariat. On the complaint of the Chief Protocol Officer of Nur Khan Airbase, a case was registered at the Airport Police Station against unidentified suspects under the provisions of the Kite Flying Act, Anti-Terrorism Act and vandalism.
It has been learned that the Punjab home department has formed a five-member joint investigation team under the leadership of Additional IG of Special Branch Punjab, Zulfiqar Hameed, to investigate the case.
DIG Internal Accountability Branch Punjab, Amin Bukhari, an officer from the Inter-Services Intelligence and an officer from the Intelligence Bureau will also be part of the panel while its convener will be empowered to include an officer of any government agency.
Repeat offenders held
On the other hand, as many as 31 repeat offenders were held in Pindi’s Adiala Jail for 15 days.
Since the start of the Basant festival on February, 24 the police launched an operation against the violators of the Basant ban at the direction of Rawalpindi CPO Khalid Mahmood Hamdani.
With the use of videos, the participants in aerial firing and kite flying were, and the arrests were made. In addition, weapons were also recovered and about 10 individuals were arrested.
More than 31 people were taken into custody by the Rawalpindi police on Saturday as part of the ongoing operation that began on Friday. They were transferred to Central Jail Adiala, Rawalpindi with 15 days detention orders issued by the deputy commissioner.
The aerial firing and the Anti-Kite Flying Act are often violated by the habitual offenders in Rawalpindi, the senior police officer said.
He added by saying that to maintain law and order and to protect the lives of people, the suspects are being held in detention under section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order. If any other individuals or groups breach these guidelines once more, strict action will be taken, he said.
It may be recalled that three people including two children were killed and more than 50 were injured due to aerial firing, kite flying, cuts from sharp kite strings and falling from the roofs of houses on the occasion of Basant in Rawalpindi, while two DSPs and SHOs of three police stations were also suspended on the notice of the Punjab government.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2023.
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