Unfair means: PTI workers allege harassment

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court issued a notice to the provincial government among others on Wednesday on a petition challenging the detainment and harassment of a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) worker. The court issued directions for the respondents to be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of the Lahore High Court was hearing a plea moved by PTI Cantt Public Affairs Committee chairman Muhammad Ateeq and Kashif Ali Shah, a resident of Defence Housing Authority.

Advocate Sair Bhatti, representing the petitioners, told Justice Shah that the respondents had exploited their office and authority to support the federal government.

The petitioners said South Cantt police arrived at Ateeq’s house at 3:30am on August 31. They said armed policemen, some in uniform others in plainclothes, forced entry in the house and harassed members of his family. They said Ateeq’s wife and six-year-old daughter were humiliated. The policemen broke the doors of his house and damaged his property, they said. Ateeq’s friend Ali, who was visiting his house was also harassed by the policemen, they said.

The petitioners said that the policemen took Ali to the South Cantt police station and kept him overnight in lock up. The petitioners requested the court to restrain police from harassing the petitioners.

They also requested the court to restrain the CCPO and South Cantt station house officer from implicating the petitioners and their family members in a criminal case.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2014.