Protocol issues: Arts Council director accused of beating guard

Watchman says director was angry at him for refusing protocol to his guests.

FAISALABAD:

A watchman at the Faisalabad Arts Council attempted suicide on Wednesday after the Council’s resident director allegedly beat him up for not providing protocol to his personal guests.

Police said the guard climbed up a wall of the arts council building and tried to jump off, but was stopped by an additional commissioner, who assured him of action against the director.

Watchman Shahid Nazir told the police that resident director Ateeq Ahmad had been accompanied by some guests when he came to attend a musical event. He said an hour after the event ended, Ahmad came out to see off his guests.

“As soon as they left, Ahmed started swearing at me for not giving protocol to his guests,” he said. He said when he asked Ahmed not to swear at him, he started beating him.

Nazir claimed that Ahmed had abused him on several occasions earlier and beaten him once, breaking two of his teeth a few months ago. He said Ahmed had then also threatened to fire him from the job if he mentioned the beating to any one.

Nazir said this time it was harder because he was insulted in front of some colleagues. “He reprimanded me for not opening car doors for his guests. But that is not my duty. I am an FAC watchman, not his private employee,” Nazir said.

He also said he could not afford losing the job as he had to support his family.

“If I lose my job, who will look after my four brothers and a sister. My father is a daily wager. There are days when he makes no money.”

Yet, he said, he could not tolerate mistreatment any longer.

An FAC worker, who wished not to be named, said he was present when the incident took place. He said he was packing up to leave for home, when he heard the resident director shout.

He said he went to inquire what had happened and saw that the resident director was beating Nazir up. However, he said, he did not intervene.

He said a few minutes after Ahmed left, Nazir climbed up the wall but colleagues pleaded him not to jump off. He said the police were also informed.

Police claimed that two bottles of liquor were recovered from the Arts Council kitchen when it was searched after the incident.

Ahmad denied beating the watchman saying he had been at a wedding ceremony at the time the watchman claimed to have been beaten.

He said he had reprimanded the watchmen in the past over negligence, but never beaten him. He said he did not know where the liquor bottles had come from.

District Coordination Officer Naseem Sadiq told The Express Tribune that an inquiry had been initiated. He said if the beating allegation was proved, strict action would be taken against the resident director.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2012.