Police refuse to take Raisani case back, say matter is in court

Baloch CM’s sons accused of beating police officers.

KARACHI: The police have ruled out the possibility of retracting multiple cases filed against the two sons of Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani on charges of harassing people and beating police officers, a senior official said on Monday.

Raees and Yadgar Raisani were booked on March 2 at Darakhshan police station. The case was registered by ASI Ghulam Hussain. “We cannot take back the cases,” said Akhtar Gorchani, who is the additional inspector general of police. “That is legally impossible. The matter is in the court now. Let the court decide.”

Without naming anyone, he said certain quarters have been pushing the police to reach a settlement. “The ASI can forgive the boys in his own capacity. But the police won’t take back the cases.”

ASI Ghulam Hussain has not been suspended or transferred, Gorchani clarified. “Hussain is in Karachi. He had himself asked for a transfer to Hyderabad even before the incident. But he is here.”

Darakhshan police officials are not willing to comment. SHO Nasrullah Khan declined to talk.

The Raisanis have been booked under six sections: 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of a common object), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty), 186 (obstructing a public servant in discharge public functions) and 337/A (punishment for Shajjah) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The Raisanis secured bail before arrest till March 22 on Saturday against a solvent surety of Rs50,000 each.

According to the ASI, he was posted at the residence of National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza when he saw 15 to 20 men, who appeared to be inebriated, beating people passing the intersection.

The police team intervened to save the victims upon which the armed men turned on the police and thrashed them as well. The men claimed to be from an influential family and threatened the policemen with dire consequences if they interfered.

As the police party called for backup, the men drove away.

Yadgar has two brothers - he is the eldest and is in his early 30s. He has married twice. He is largely based in Quetta, and comes to Karachi for entertainment. His younger brother, Rais, works at a big bank.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2012.