ISLAMABAD: An ASI was dismissed from police service after he failed to satisfy his seniors about his act of firing a warning shot on the ground when a man resisted body search, sources told Dawn.

The sources in the police said the ASI was stationed at the Industrial Area police station.

On Jan 3, he intercepted a car in I-10/3 and asked its driver for body search, but he refused and resisted, they added.

The ASI pulled his weapon and fired in the ground to warn the man, they said, adding that but the man kept his one hand at his trouser pocket and pushed the ASI away.

However, the ASI made attempts to search him, but the man resisted, they said, adding shortly he ran away leaving behind his car there.

Later, the ASI also left, they said, adding that sometime later the man took his vehicle from the spot.

The incidence came to the knowledge of a senior police officer through a video, which was posted by someone on the social media, they added.

Over the incident Deputy Inspector General of Police Operation Waqaruddin Syed took action and asked SP Industrial Area Zone Zubair Ahmed Shaikh to take necessary action.

Initial inquiry revealed that on Jan 3, the ASI was deputed at H-9 Weekly Bazaar, but he came over to I-10/3 where the incident took place.

The ASI told the seniors that he got a tip from an informer about a man carrying ice (drug), they said adding that he was lying in wait for the man and intercepted him at I-10/3 when he appeared there in a car.

The inquiry further revealed that the ASI neither informed his supervisory officers, including the SHO nor reported the matter in a register of the police station, they added.

After the initial inquiry, the ASI was suspended and a show-cause notice was issued to him, the sources said, adding the inquiry found him guilty of negligence and misconduct as he instead of performing his duty assigned to him at the H-9 weekly bazaar, went to I-10/3.

The ASI was found guilty of misconduct under Punjab Police (E&D) Rules 1975 Rule 3, entailing one of the minor/major penalties as envisaged in Rule 4 (a) and (b), they said, adding that proceedings (without enquiry officer) was initiated against him under Rules 6 (3) a and b against him.

The ASI was appeared and submitted verbal and written statement to the SP in response to the notice, they said, adding that but his explanation was found unsatisfactory.

As a result major punishment which includes dismissal from service was awarded to him, they added.

Talking to Dawn, the senior police officers said that under any circumstances the police cannot fire at unarmed person, no matter even if he was a culprit or terrorist.

If the police have the right to use weapon in self-defence, a citizen also enjoyed the similar right, they added.

PPC section 96 to 104 addresses the issue of firing in self-defence and hot pursuit, they said, adding that there are SOPs too for the police to open fire, but the SOP has no legal value.

The police cannot use weapon against unarmed person, they said, adding whether such person was on foot or wheels he should be intercepted or stopped by using manpower or through blockade and should be taken into custody.

The police only use weapon in private defence when the opponent open fire at him with intention to kill or injured them, they said, adding that the police were also not empowered to fire at wheels or leg of any person to stop them when he was unarmed.

The police also use weapon in hot pursuit, they said, adding that police use weapon for warning and fire at armed person when he fires to harm others.

In case of Osama Satti, the 21-years-old boy who was gunned down by police on Srinagar Highway on January 2, the police should not have fired on him, because he was unarmed, they said, adding that the police chasing the vehicle should have asked for cordon or more vehicle to block his way and arrested him without using the weapon.

The police misused the weapon given to them, they said.

Meanwhile, Naddem Satti, father of Osama Satti, said at a press conference here on Tuesday that police pulled out his son from his car and shot him dead. There were no marks of bullets on the rear side or inside of the vehicle, he added.

“My other son inspected the car and found not a single bullet mark in the driving seat where Osama was sitting,” he said, adding that Osama also received bullet in his foot which shows that police fired on him after pulling him out of the car.

He rejected the judicial inquiry being conducted by additional district magistrate, by saying that he has no trust in the police and the administration. He said the interior minister assured him that a judge of Islamabad High Court would conduct the inquiry in response of his demand.

He appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice over the killing of his son.

The police failed to recover weapon, used in the killing of Osama Satti, he said.

He warned of a protest outside at the National Press Club on Friday.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2021