Vandal-in-chief: Gullu Butt arrested, claims he acted alone
Butt is set to be presented before court on June 19.
Butt is set to be presented before court on June 19. PHOTO: INP
LAHORE:
Gullu Butt, an alleged police tout who was caught on cameras vandalising vehicles during the clash between police and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers, was arrested late Tuesday night on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Butt is currently being kept in Lahore’s Faisal Town police station and an FIR under sections 506, 427, 353 and 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) has been lodged against him. He is set to be presented before court today (Thursday).
In his statement to the police, Butt said he acted alone. “No police officer told me to do anything, everything I did, I did out of my own choice,” he said. “I am an emotional man, and couldn’t control myself when PAT activists opened fire on policemen.”
Footage of Butt captured during the clash, however, showed him seemingly receiving instructions from then Model Town police SP Tariq Aziz. It showed Butt receive a hug from SP Aziz after the former had vandalised over a dozen cars.
“Several senior officers were present at the scene and noticed Butt damaging the vehicles, but they all took him for a CDG employee and part of the anti-encroachment team. Therefore no one stopped him,” a police official told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity.
When contacted, SP Aziz refused to comment.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2014.
Gullu Butt, an alleged police tout who was caught on cameras vandalising vehicles during the clash between police and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers, was arrested late Tuesday night on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Butt is currently being kept in Lahore’s Faisal Town police station and an FIR under sections 506, 427, 353 and 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) has been lodged against him. He is set to be presented before court today (Thursday).
In his statement to the police, Butt said he acted alone. “No police officer told me to do anything, everything I did, I did out of my own choice,” he said. “I am an emotional man, and couldn’t control myself when PAT activists opened fire on policemen.”
Footage of Butt captured during the clash, however, showed him seemingly receiving instructions from then Model Town police SP Tariq Aziz. It showed Butt receive a hug from SP Aziz after the former had vandalised over a dozen cars.
“Several senior officers were present at the scene and noticed Butt damaging the vehicles, but they all took him for a CDG employee and part of the anti-encroachment team. Therefore no one stopped him,” a police official told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity.
When contacted, SP Aziz refused to comment.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2014.