T-20 final: Police baton charge ‘freeloaders’

Eyewitnesses say cops let kith and kin in without tickets, thrashed ticket holders.

RAWALPINDI: Over 20,000 people managed to watch the T-20 final between Lahore Lions and Faisalabad Wolves on Sunday, but the real action was outside the stadium.

The Rawalpindi police baton charged cricket fans outside Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Most of the people getting the stick claimed to be ticket holders there to enjoy the T-20 final between Lahore Lions and Faisalabad Wolves.

Due to the mismanagement of the authorities, dozens of ticketholders were not allowed to enter the stadium. When they forced their way in, the police resorted to baton charging, causing minor injuries to a number of people.

“Why are the police using batons against us? We are cricket fans, not terrorists,” said Rafaqat Khan, who despite having had a ticket was not allowed into the stadium to watch the final match.

Khan alleged that the police also baton charged women and children, which the police flatly denied.

On the scene, police officials were seen allowing their own friends and family into the stadium despite the fact they did not have tickets. On the other hand, dozens of ticketholders protested against the practice while waving their tickets in their hands.

New Town Station House Officer Ijaz Shah, who was supervising the security duty, told The Express Tribune that the police resorted to light baton charge just to keep “unwanted people” away from the stadium. He claimed that the police tried its best to facilitate all the ticketholders.

“Around 4,000 to 5,000 people including some suspected criminals tried to create a ruckus outside the stadium. We had to resort to light baton charge to keep such elements away,” said Shah.

However, those who did get inside had a good time.

“We really enjoyed the T-20 final. We love cricket and want the immediate revival of international cricket in Pakistan,” said Nazir Hussain, who had had brought two of his children along from Dhoke Paracha to watch the match.

Muhammad Mukhtar, who had come from Islamabad, also demanded revival of international cricket in the country.



A massive traffic jam was also witnessed on a portion of Murree Road on Sunday due to the rush of cricket fans who had flooded the stadium. The blocking of Double Road led to traffic snarls on connected roads, particularly Murree Road from Faizabad to Sixth Road.

The district government had also closed the U-turn near the Sasta Bazaar, which further complicated matters for motorists who had to take U-turn from Sixth Road.

“Blocking the stadium road (Double Road) is an injustice to motorists. Instead of blocking roads, our law enforcement agencies should enhance their intelligence capacity to foil suspected activities,” said Ali Furqan, a motorist, who was stuck in traffic near the Sixth Road flyover.

The authorities had also closed the food street adjacent to the stadium.

Meanwhile, inside the stadium a last-ball thriller ended as a three-wicket win for the Lahore Lions.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2014.