Asif inquiry: ‘Harassed not robbed’

LAHORE:

An inquiry by Cantt SP (Operations) Omer Riaz on Thursday concluded that former Pakistan cricketer Muhammad Asif was not robbed.

The report, however, says that Asif was manhandled and harassed by Sohaib Dogar, a restaurant owner.

The report said both Asif and Dogar had contradicted themselves during questioning.

SP Riaz said Sohaib Dogar had withdrawn his original statement and given another contradictory statement. He said Dogar now, said, the fight had not taken place at his restaurant.

Instead, he said, Asif had picked him up from his restaurant and taken him to a house at Eden Housing Society where they had an argument over payment for food ordered from his restaurant.

The report dismissed this account as false.

Dogar confessed that he had tried to hit Asif.

The report says Asif was manhandled and harassed by Dogar and his friends. It says Asif drove away and was chased.

When his car broke down near a WAPDA office in the area he took a rickshaw to flee the scene.

Police said they found Asif’s car there with its back mirror and bumper broken. They also found Asif’s passport.

The Cantt SP said Asif had pressed charges. Criminal intimidation and mischief causing damage to property had been registered against Dogar.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2013.