The Kohsar police have registered an FIR against the president of Aabpara Market Traders Association (AMTA), and dozens of other traders for allegedly thrashing a court bailiff.
AMTA President Ajmal Baloch and other traders are accused of roughing up a bailiff when he attempted to get a shop in Shaheen Market vacated.
Investigation Officer Rafiullah said that on the complaint of Ashfaq Ahmed, the owner of a shop, the police registered a case against Baloch and others traders under sections 447, 353, 186 147 and 149. The police have yet to arrest the nominated accused.
Rafiullah said that those who have been nominated in the FIR will soon be arrested. When asked if the police were facing any hurdles in arresting Baloch, who is also affiliated with the ruling party, he replied in the negative.
Traders demand FIR withdrawal, SSP’s sacking
Meanwhile, local traders staged protests in Aabpara Market and outside Kohsar Police Station to condemn the police action. Protesters were demanding the immediate withdrawal of the FIR, action against the police officials they have accused of ‘beating up’ Baloch. They also chanted slogans against the Islamabad Police and demanded the removal of the Senior Superintendent of Islamabad Police Operations (SSP) Asmatullah Junejo.
They claimed that the Kohsar police had ‘manhandled’ and ‘thrashed’ Baloch.
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Shaban Khalid condemned the incident, saying that this was the second time in a week that a member of the business community was attacked by the police.
“This shows that the police have scant regard for the business community, who play a crucial role in supporting the economy,” he said.
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Vice-President Munawar Mughal demanded the removal of the Islamabad Operations SSP and action against the police officials involved in “beating up” Baloch.
He said that it was unfortunate that the police were implicating traders in “fake cases”. He urged traders to take a united stand for their rights. He said the practice of “forced eviction” of traders from shops has put them in an awkward situation.
The traders also said that Punjab Police personnel should be separated from Islamabad Police staff as their “mixing was producing ‘Gulluism’ in Islamabad Police”.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2014.
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