LAHORE: Actor Uzma Khan on Friday denied having cut a deal with those she recently accused of a violent attack on her and accused police of favouring her opponents in the case.

The actor, accompanied by her lawyer, said the police has so far failed to make any arrests -- on a day when a court in the city issued warrants for the arrest of three women who happen to be the daughters of a prominent figure in the real estate business.

Sources said a police team formed under the supervision of Cantonment Division SP (Investigation) Ali Bin Tariq was dispatched to the residence of the women on Thursday noon, but was called back before effecting any arrest.

The police officials refused to comment on the issue which, they said, was a sensitive matter.

An official told Dawn on the request that he not be named that both sides would likely reach an agreement as reconciliation efforts were under way. “These are just rumours and I reject them making it clear that no such effort is being made,” Uzma told Dawn on Friday. She said neither the suspects had contacted her for any deal nor would she accept it.

Arrest warrants issued for sisters in actor’s case

Her lawyer, Hassaan Niazi, alleged police were asking Ms Khan to reconcile with the suspects instead of pursuing the case and demanding their arrest. He said he had tried his best to get time from SSP (Investigation) Zeeshan Asghar but he had not responded to his calls. Police, he said, seemed to be avoiding them.

He said the house where the incident took place was owned by Babar Naseem, who hails from Mardan. Babar is, at present, living in Islamabad, he added. He had rented out the house to TV host Fahad Noor and Uzma Khan, he said, adding that Fahad was living in the upper portion of the residence while Uzma and her sister Huma Khan had ground floor possession.

“Property tycoon Malik Riaz’s daughter Amina Usman and her husband Usman Malik have nothing to do with this house,” he claimed.

He said police mentioned bailable sections in the first information report, though the women stormed the house with armed men and tortured Uzma and her sister besides sexually harassing them.

The Defence C police registered a case against Amina Usman, Pashmina Malik and Amber Malik after multiple videos went viral on social media showing them torturing and harassing the actor and her sister.

In a series of tweets, Mr Niazi alleged that police were planning to remove Section 452 of PPC from the FIR. The section deals with the offence of house trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint. The offence carries a sentence up to seven years.

He said police refused to add Section 506-B of the PPC and offence of sexual harassment in the FIR only to benefit the suspects. He said the suspects had not applied for pre-arrest bail so far and police had not raided their house.

ARREST WARRANTS: A judicial magistrate at Cantonment Courts issued warrants for the arrest of three sisters in a case of attacking actor Uzma Khan and her sister.

Magistrate Ghulam Shabbir Sial issued arrest warrants on an application filed by the investigating officer of the FIR registered with Defence C police station. The suspects included Amina Usman Malik, Pashmina Malik and Amber Malik.

The officer sought arrest warrants of the suspects under Section 75 of CrPC on the grounds that the suspects intentionally hid themselves to avoid the arrest.

The magistrate after perusal of the record observed that the suspects were nominated in the FIR. He noted that the IO made efforts for the arrest of the suspects but they could not be arrested. “Therefore, as per request of the IO, warrants of arrest under Section 75 of CrPC be issued for June 4, 2020,” read the order.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2020