Tarnol Toll Plaza: Nisar orders inquiry after police, FWO officials’ brawl

Police have registered a case after being thrashed, locked up.

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has ordered the Islamabad chief commissioner to conduct an inquiry into a brawl between his squad comprising anti-terrorist squad (ATS) officials and officials of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) at Tarnol Toll Plaza on May 9.

Seven policemen, including a traffic cop, were injured on Saturday when officials of the FWO allegedly beat them up, snatched their weapons and confined them in a room for a couple of hours over a complaint of overcharging at an E-tag lane, said the police.

The police said a man went to ATS officials deployed near the toll plaza saying he was overcharged at the E-tag lane by FWO staff. When the policemen inquired from FWO officials about the issue, things heated up and ultimately the policemen were beaten, locked up and released only after the Inspector General of the Police reached the spot, they added.

When the tussle began, the FWO gathered 20 to 25 people and started beating the policemen at the toll plaza, the police said. The injured include sub-inspector Muhammad Aslam, assistant sub-inspector, Asim Javed, and four constables — Tahir Rafiq, Imtiaz, Ahmed Rehman and Shamraiz. The traffic official was identified as ASI Naseer Ahmed. An FWO official, who was present at the spot, also confirmed that the policemen were thrashed and confined in a room after the initial heated argument and a few shoves between the officials.

Following their release, they were rushed to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences where according to the police officials, two cops are in critical condition.

The police have also registered a case under sections 324 (attempt to murder), 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) and 109 (punishment of abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Tarnol Police Station.

Six people — Major Tahir, Subedar Riasat, manager Saif, Hawaldar Aurangzaib and Ahmed, and sepoy Faheem — have been nominated along with 20 to 25 unidentified men in the FIR, said the police.

The police officials added that no action has so far been taken against the FWO officials as the interior minister has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

In his statement released to the media, the minister said no one can be allowed to take the law into their own hands, adding that quarrel between government officials causes embarrassment.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2015.