Human rights activist Farzana Bari, when contacted, said “an independent and transparent inquiry should be made into his suspension and the public should be made aware of the reasons behind it.” PHOTO: STOCK IMAGE
The official stance on the suspension of former SSP (operations) Asmatullah Junejo has made things murkier and raised many eyebrows.
The SSP took charge of the capital police last year when other senior officers were hesitant during the four month-long political turmoil and boosted moral of a battered force.
On January 1, 2015, Junejo, the acting SHO of Shahzad Town Police Station Anis Akber, and an ASI were suspended on charges of showing ‘leniency’ towards a local leader of a sectarian organisation and his guards for violating Section 144.
Instead of re-arresting the man and taking action against him, the top police officials decided to ‘punish’ the cops who performed their duty as per law.
Sources in the police department revealed that top officials were directly involved in the release of the suspects and ‘recording of the wireless communication’ can easily provide evidence to what happened on the night of Dec 31, 2014.
“A court official came to the police station with release orders and the suspects were subsequently released,” an official in the police department told The Express Tribune while requesting anonymity.
It has also been learnt that the SSP was suspended through verbal orders and no ‘charge sheet’ has so far been prepared against him despite being ordered to report to the establishment division. There were reports on the night of the incident that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took serious notice of the issue. However, the prime minister’s spokesperson Dr Mussadiq Malik could not be reached for comments, despite repeated attempts.
On December 31, a former president of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ)’s Rawalpindi chapter, Mufti Tanvir Alam Farooqui, along with his gunmen and companions, were arrested by a joint team of police and Rangers after they intercepted a double-cabin pickup and seized unlicenced weapons from them at a picket near Taramri Chowk. The suspects were also booked in five separate cases.
Besides the ‘lenient view,’ the officials were suspended on charges of not booking all of the suspects in a single case.
“I performed my official responsibilities. Arrested the men and registered cases against them,” said Junejo while talking to The Express Tribune.
“Frankly, I have no idea why I was stigmatised as a corrupt official. Is this the reward for all my hard work, honesty and professionalism,” he questioned.
He added that he was ready to face any enquiry in the matter.
Commenting on the issue, Rizwan Abbasi, a legal expert, said the SSP did the right thing by registering separate cases against the suspects.
He added that Farooqui could have been booked under Section 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code because unlicenced weapons were recovered from his guards.
“There is, however, no illegality in registering separate or combined cases against the suspects,” said Abbasi, “It seems to be more of a case of personal revenge.”
AIG Operations Sultan Azam Temuri, who is conducting an enquiry into the matter, could not be reached for his comments and findings of the issue.
Many of the top officials in the police department expressed great concern over Junejo’s removal in an unceremonious manner. “He has been victimised,” was the word in the police department.
Junejo is said to be among the few officers who performed their duties with utmost honesty and professionalism and took a bold stance against extremist elements.
Human rights activist Farzana Bari, when contacted, said “an independent and transparent inquiry should be made into his suspension and the public should be made aware of the reasons behind it.”
Jibran Nasir, the activist who is leading a campaign against former Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz for his refusal to solely condemn the Peshawar school massacre, said “[Junejo] stood for rule of law and democracy, and took reins as SSP operations when no one else was willing to.” Instead of making him an escape goat, a thorough investigation should be made into the incident, said Nasir, adding that “he should not have been suspended as a knee-jerk reaction.”
The bold activist further said that clerics whose warrants have been issued, such as Aziz, are left untouched by the government.
“Rana Sanaullah is not reprimanded by the prime minister for openly defending and campaigning for ASWJ yet Junejo bears the brunt for his so-called leniency,” said Nasir.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2015.
COMMENTS (4)
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Terrible really. I have heard of his honesty and uprightness from people who have worked with him. Someone really wanted to show him what that means in a country like Pakistan where a tax defaulter doesn't need any accountability to become prime minister third-time. And people still defend this govt with its record corruption and dangerous inclinations
Goat escaped?
I told you so.
With no doubt, it won't go in vain to call it hypocrite and coward act of our institutional representative for suspension of law souvenir. Rana Sanaullah, as being tackled with no doubt by the natives of his land claim, that these leaders of black and dirty organizations have a strong, strengthened and durable back-up. Being an old native of Jhang, it is witnessed by me a bunch of times how Rana sb. finds himself quite grateful on being called by ceremonies of all these banned outfits.