‘Dispute over parking’: Police ransack board office, break equipment

Say their colleagues were being held inside the board office.

SWAT:

Following an alleged attack on Swat board’s staff by the police on Thursday, Private School Management Association (PSMA) appealed to the Supreme Court (SC) to initiate an inquiry into the incident.

The incident occurred over a parking dispute between a board official and the police which led to an exchange of harsh words, said board officials.

They said dozens of policemen led by a Station House Officer broke into their office and beat up staff members.

“They broke into our building, tore up sealed question papers of intermediate exams and broke our computers,” said an official asking not to be named.

The police, however, seem to have a different version of the story. According to their version, they intervened after receiving reports of their fellow policemen being held illegally inside the board building.

Both parties reconciled after successful negotiations. PSMA President Ziauddin Yousafzai termed the act of police as “state terrorism” and sought an impartial inquiry from the SC.

He also warned that the teachers and students would take to the streets if the culprits aren’t brought to justice.

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