LAHORE, Nov 1: The provincial capital on Thursday witnessed several protest demonstrations against alleged police brutality and non-cooperation.

A police official (who was penalised during the course of investigation) was among the protesters in one of the cases.

Naseem Bibi, the wife of police driver (constable) Salamat Ali Jutt of Atif Park, Shalimar, together with scores of protesters, turned up outside the Press Club and protested against the Shalimar SHO and five other officials for implicating her husband in a fake case.

The protesters also burnt an effigy of the SHO and appealed to the chief minister for justice.

Naseem told reporters that Salamat, who was posted in Mujahid Police wing, was nominated in a narcotics-cum-liquor case on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Muhammad Riaz but an inquiry held by the SSP Internal Accountability Division proved the case fake and declared Salamat innocent.

The inquiry also held SIs Iqbal Ali, Riaz, ASI Abdur Razzaque and constables Mansab and Faqeer Hussain guilty.

Junaid Malli, Salamat’s brother, told Dawn that Salamat was implicated in the case on Aug 30 last at the behest of a PPP general councillor (who is a neighbour of Salamat).

He claimed some Rescue 15 officials rushed to an emergency call that some people were enjoying liquor at a house in Atif Park.

The police raided the house and found the councillor and his fellows under the influence.

Junaid said the councillor suspected that his neighbour Salamat managed the raid and involved him in the fake case with the help of the Shalimar police. He said the police officials raided Salamat’s house, took him into custody and also looted 12 tolas of gold ornaments, 17 tolas of silver jewellery and a wrist watch during search.

Junaid further said the fake recovery of 51 bottles of liquor and 1,035 grams of chars were shown at a fake place in the FIR.

Junaid further said Salamat was sent on judicial remand and declared guilty by the Civil Lines SP (Investigation) on submission of an application. He said the family submitted another application to the CCPO who ordered the SSP IAD to inquire into the matter.

He said the IO declared Salamat innocent on Oct 11 and he was released on bail. Junaid alleged that the police had to take action against five officials and recover their looted items. He said the officials had the backing of the Shalimar SHO.

The protesters then reached outside the Capital City Police Office and chanted slogans in favour of the CCPO and the SSP IAD.

A citizen of Baghbanpura also staged protest against the police officials outside the LPC for attempting to illegally occupy his piece of property at Mehmood Booti. The protester said despite his continuous protests and submission of applications, the police had yet to take action against the land grabbers and rather a gate was erected on his property and he was implicated in fake cases.

The citizen appealed to the chief minister and the chief justice of Pakistan to take action against the land grabbers.

In another protest, a Faisalabad-based family lodged a protest against the Tibbi city investigation police for not arresting the murderer of Fiaz. They alleged that the police being complainant in the case were not conducting investigation on merit.

Qila Gujjar Singh SHO Shabbir Hussain Awan said the protests took place in different time intervals and the local police avoided road blockade. He confirmed two protests against the police.