Unceremonious ouster: SSP Junejo removed

Official press release cites his ‘leniency’ towards ASWJ leader as cause of suspension

ISLAMABAD: The capital’s Operations SSP Asmatullah Junejo was ‘suspended with directions to report to the establishment division’ after he allegedly took a ‘lenient position’ while registering cases against a former president of a banned outfit and his guards who were accused of violating Section 144, police sources revealed on Thursday.

The SSP, acting SHO of Shahzad Town police Anis Akber, and an ASI have been suspended on charges of ‘not inserting correct sections of the law against the suspects’ in five cases registered against them.

On December 31, former president of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ)’s Rawalpindi chapter, Mufti Tanvir Alam Farooqui, along with his gunmen and companions, were taken into custody after a joint patrolling team of police and Rangers intercepted a double cabin pickup at a picket near Tramri Chowk.

The police said Farooqui and others were arrested after illegal weapons, including 12 bore pump action, two 44 bore rifles, two 9mm pistols and bullets, were recovered from their possession and subsequently they were taken to the Shahzad Town Police Station.

The police added that Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was imposed in the capital and exhibition of any kind of weapons was banned.

The officials, however, did not book the suspects on charges of violating Section 144 and lodged separate cases against them, said the police. “Alam and the other suspects were not treated as per the law,” said an official, adding that “instead of registering a combined case against them, they were booked in different cases under sections of the arms ordinance.”

The official added that only one Alam was booked under Section 188 of CrPC whereas all suspects should have been booked under the same section for openly carrying weapons in the capital.

In their defence, the police officials said they did not inserte sections dealing with display of arms as the suspects were not displaying the weapons when they were stopped.

ASWJ spokesman Hafiz Oneed Farooqi said Alam and the others were released from the police station following their arrest. He said Alam has survived three assassination attempts and the guards were for his protection.

Shahzad Town police officials, however, said the suspects were released after they were given bail from the court.

According to the FIRs, the double-cabin pickup (J-9965) was intercepted on Wednesday night and six people were held after they failed to produce licenses for their weapons. At the time of arrest, Tanvir disclosed that the men were his guards. It further states that this act of Alam was a violation of Section 144.

AIG Operations Sultan Azam Temuri is conducting an enquiry of the matter and was not available for comments. Junejo too could not be reached despite repeated attempts.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2014.