Misri Shah: IG forced to quit kutchery as complainants rush stage

Punjab Police chief had been invited to open court by private party.

LAHORE:

Inspector General (IG) Haji Habibur Rehman had to leave an open court in Misri Shah after the complainants rushed the stage, putting his security at risk, police said.

The Punjab Police IG had been invited to the open court by a private party, which had arranged for a tent with 300 seats. However, even before the IG began his address to open the kutchery, the tent was packed. Rehman said that the protection of citizens’ lives and property was the prime responsibility of the police and no negligence in this regard would be accepted. He said that the open court would help bridge the mistrust between the police and the public.

After his speech ended, the microphone was turned over to the people so they could inform the IG of their complaints. By the time the third complainant was speaking, many people had rushed on to the stage. The IG, who was accompanied by CCPO Aslam Tareen and DIG Rai Tahir, was forced to leave in undignified haste. The complainants, many of whom were from out of town, were later told to pass on their requests in writing to the DIG.

Mian Amir, a Misri Shah resident who helped with arrangements, said that the IG had agreed to attend on the invitation of veteran actor Ali Ejaz. He said that they had made arrangements for the open court at a playground but it had rained in the morning, forcing them to change the venue at the last minute. He said that the new venue was not big enough for all the complainants. He said that the IG’s security staff arrived at the venue an hour before the open court. He said it was for them to ensure order at the event, not for private parties.

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