Crisis management: Punjab police had free hand in tackling marchers

Violence similar to the Model Town tragedy

ISLAMABAD: The Punjab police had a free hand during the protests as they have enjoyed the discretion to use violence against the marchers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and media personnel at Constitution Avenue, sources have revealed.

The tactics used  on Saturday and Sunday’s protests bear similarities with the Model Town tragedy. It has left three protestors dead and injured over 500 people – including a number of journalists, sources observed.

The Punjab Police – who were inherently under the command of Islamabad police –have targeted the marchers and media persons by violating orders from senior police officials. According to sources, they were reluctant to take instructions from the Islamabad police officers to stop the violence.

Sources have revealed that this is the reason why SSP Islamabad Muhammad Ali Nekokar has requested for a transfer as he had reservations over a scenario involving police action. However, his request was turned down.

Interestingly, sources have revealed that the Punjab police were being monitored by some other command instead of Islamabad police, sources believed.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2014.