Law and order: Mob attacks police station, police surrender motorbike

15 put behind bars for attacking SHO, then released without charge.

LAHORE: The police are pressing no charges after some 50 people attacked Islampura police station and beat up officials on Sunday.

Station House Officer (SHO) Hussain Ali Malik told The Express Tribune that the issue started on Sunday morning when Mujahid Squad officials confiscated a motorbike as its driver did not have the registration documents.

Malik said that on Sunday, he received phone calls from Islampura Traders Association resident Ghulam Abbas and Chairman Muhammad Hafeez demanding that the bike be released. He said he then received a call from an associate of Hafeez named Naveed Kamal who insulted and threatened him.

He said that a little later, a mob assembled at the police station. Most of them stayed outside and threw stones at the building. Some policemen were beaten up outside. Meanwhile, a group of around 10 men entered the SHO’s room. He said that they tried to attack him, but other police officials stepped in and took control of the situation. Around 15 assailants were put behind bars.

However, Malik said that the men were later released without the registration of an FIR against them. Asked why, he refused to comment. He also admitted to releasing the motorbike to them, even though they did not produce the original documents for the motorbike. Asked why he had done so, he refused to comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2012.