Snooker champion detained, tortured by cops
Ahsan Ramzan, a world snooker champion, alleges detainment, humiliation, and torture by Green Town Police while training late at night at a snookers club in Township.
Ramzan said he was at a snookers club in Township, busy training for an upcoming event, when a police team raided the premises.
Despite introducing himself as a champion who has brought pride to the country, the police allegedly responded with abusive language and detained him.
Ramzan claims that they removed his belt, snatched his phone and other belongings before locking him behind bars at Green Town police station.
Feeling deeply hurt and outraged by the incident, the snooker champion appealed to the prime minister, chief minister and the IG Punjab to initiate an independent inquiry into the matter.
In response to the seriousness of the situation, Punjab CM Mohsin Naqvi has taken notice of the incident and directed CCPO Lahore to submit a report. SP Sadar has been assigned to conduct the inquiry.
Meanwhile, Punjab Billiards Snookers Association President MB Ghauri expressed concern over the misuse of authority by the police, stating that raiding snookers clubs on gambling allegations to extort money is a common practice.
He denounced the excuses given by the police for these raids, claiming that there has never been a case where proclaimed offenders or street criminals were arrested from such clubs.
Former world champion Muhammad Yousaf strongly condemned the mistreatment by the police, emphasising that a champion who brings honor to the country through hard work should not be humiliated. He expressed worry about the authorities’ treatment of sportsmen, emphasising that respect is essential for athletes.
The police misbehaved with him and forced him to undress before detaining him.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 4th, 2023.