Murky affair: Mystery shrouds SSP Junejo’s suspension

Sources reveal top officials were directly involved in release of arrested ASWJ leader

ISLAMABAD: The official stance, or lack thereof, from the highest levels on the suspension of SSP Asmatullah Junejo has made things murkier and raised many eyebrows.

On January 1, 2015, Junejo and Shahzad Town Police Station acting SHO Anis Akber were suspended on charges of showing ‘leniency’ towards the arrest of a local leader of a sectarian organisation and his guards for violating Section 144.

Besides the ‘lenient view’, the officials were suspended on charges of not booking all of the suspects in a single case.

According to reliable police sources, the order to release the sectarian outfit leader was made from the high-ups of government, including IGP office, not the SSP’s.

“Both telephonic and the wireless logbook records can provide evidence to this fact. The relevant zonal SP, SDPO and the sub-inspector are also witness to this fact,” said a senior police official privy to the development.

“A lower court official came to the police station with release orders and the suspects,” an official in the police department told The Express Tribune, 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.

On December 31, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) Rawalpindi chapter’s former president Mufti Tanvir Alam Farooqui along with his gunmen and companions was arrested by a joint patrolling team of police and Rangers after they intercepted a double-cabin pickup and seized unlicenced weapons from them at a check point near Taramri Chowk. Five separate cases were registered against the suspects at Shahzad Town Police Station.

It has also been learnt that Farooqui, who has survived three attempts on his life, was also accompanied by a Rawalpindi police guard carrying an official SMG rifle.

The sources said leniency was shown to the arrested men by allowing their bails in the Shahzad Town police station, instead of sending them to court for fulfilling legal formalities.

Contrary to the claims that the Secretariat Assistant Commissioner Captain (retd) Waqas Rasheed came to the police station with release orders of the suspects, Rasheed said he granted bail to Farooqui after he was produced before him in the court by the investigation officer at around 12pm on January 1. “I granted bail to Farooqui as per the law,” he said.

The other suspects were given bails at the police station by the relevant officer, Rasheed said, adding that the official of the Punjab Police was not booked in any case as he was officially deputed for providing security to Farooqui.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Junejo said that since the possession of weapons was an individual’s act, a combined FIR could not be lodged for all the suspects as it could provide benefit of doubt during the bail application and trial of the case.

Junejo said that separate FIRs were lodged for all the suspects and one Jamil Khan, who was wearing a black “Police” shirt, was also charged under Section 170 of the Pakistan Penal Code. “All legal formalities were fulfilled and no laxity was made at all,” he said.

“I performed my official responsibilities. Arrested the men and registered cases against them,” said Junejo.

“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 inquiry 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 inquiry into the matter, could not be reached for comments.

Track record

Many top officials in the police department expressed dismay and concern over Junejo’s removal in an unceremonious manner. “He has been victimised,” is 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 as well as started cleansing the department of tainted officials.

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 morale of a battered force.

Junejo had booked about 79 clerics for misuse of loudspeaker and violating amplifier act.

Human rights activist Farzana Bari, when contacted, said, “An independent and transparent inquiry should be conducted into his suspension and the public should be made aware of the reasons behind it.”

Jibran Nasir, the activist who is leading a campaign for arrest of former Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz and his removal from the mosque following his controversial statement on the Peshawar school massacre, said, “He [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 a scapegoat, 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.

According to media reports, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also took ‘serious notice’ of the issue on the night of the incident. However, the prime minister’s spokesperson Dr Mussadiq Malik could not be reached for comments, despite repeated attempts.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2014.