LAHORE: Bahawalnagar District Police Officer (DPO) Sharik Kamal Siddiqui was expelled from Punjab by the establishment division for ordering a raid at MNA’s outhouse to arrest a suspect involved in torturing policemen at a check post.

Imran Sindhu, who looks after MNA Alam Dad Laleka’s agricultural land, fell into a rage when a police patrol intercepted him about a week back. He later attacked the policemen with fists and kicks.

The policemen reported the matter to DPO Sharik Kamal Siddiqui who ordered to register a case against Sindhu. Police then raided MNA’s outhouse and arrested the suspect.

On the report of the MNA, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ordered an inquiry into the matter.

Pays penalty of ordering raid at MNA’s outhouse to arrest suspect

An inquiry team found DSP Allah Dad Luk and SHO guilty of conducting the raid, and on it’s recommendation, both officers were suspended from service.

Sources said the action taken against the two police officers could not satisfy the MNA. He moved ahead further and approached Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif this time to get the Bahawalnagar DPO transferred as well.

Sources said, on the direction of the PM, the DPO was not only transferred, but was also directed to report to the establishment division which handed his services over to the federal government.

MNA Alam Dad Laleka was unavailable for his comments despite repeated attempts. His assistant Muhammad Afzal said that opponents of Mr Laleka were trying to drag him into the issue.

He said Imran Sindhu had taken the agricultural land of the MNA on lease and he had a scuffle with the policemen.

He said the police registered a case against Sindhu and later conducted a raid on the MNA’s outhouse to arrest him.

He said that some six or seven police vehicles reached the outhouse and took the domestic worker into custody, but he was later released.

Quoting Mr Laleka, he said the police should have raided the suspect’s house if they wanted to arrest him instead of raiding the outhouse of the MNA.

According to some media reports, the police high-ups called the DPO to visit MNA’s house and tender an apology.

On his refusal, DPO Shariq Kamal Siddique was asked to relinquish the charge of his office and report immediately to the establishment division in Islamabad.

Several attempts were made to get the version of the DPO, but he did not attend the phone calls.

Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mushtaq Sukhera said he had nothing to do with the matter as the decision to this effect was taken by a competent ‘authority’.

Some two years ago, Islamabad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohammad Ali Nekokara had offered rational arguments to the IGP and the secretary interior for not using ‘additional force’ against demonstrators in August 2014.

He was first suspended from service and then sacked. Mr Nekokara is still awaiting justice from the service tribunals and courts.

Reports said the SSP had issued written instructions to the Islamabad police not to use firearms without his permission.

He had in fact refused to obey oral orders from his superiors and political bosses to ‘deal strongly’ with demonstrators.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2016