SC orders arrest of accused cops over woman's manhandling

ISLAMABAD Expressing its annoyance on manhandling of a woman by Faisalabad Police, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday issued orders for arrest the police officials involved in the incident within next 36 hours. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while hearing a suo motu case regarding manhandling of the woman, observed that police went out of the control and such incidents brought bad name to the country. During course of proceedings, Inspector General Punjab Police, Tariq Saleem Dogar informed the court that the woman was not tortured in the police station. She was slightly pushed by a lady police official, he added. However, after showing the video clipping of woman being tortured by the police officials in the courtroom, the IGP was unable to force his stance. CPO Faisalabad, Rao Sardar claimed that the woman alleged to have been tortured and manhandled by them was actually a court absconder. He informed that the said woman, Abida Hameed, was accused in a case filed in August 2008. A local court ordered the police to arrest Abida after she had failed to appear before the court on several occasions, he added. The court directed the Inspector General of the Punjab Police for registration of case within next 36 hours against the police officials involved in this inhuman practice. The court scolded Inspector General of the Punjab Police, Tariq Saleem Dogar for turning blind eye towards the matter. The CJP reprimanded the IG Punjab for not taking action against the police personnel responsible for the mistreatment. He observed that the incidents brought bad name to Pakistan in which women were tortured in the country. Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday also criticised the attitude of police personnel with citizens. The footage of maltreatment was shown in the courtroom when CPO Rao Sardari denied the reports of torture in this regard. Justice Ramday asked the IG Punjab that CPO Faisalabad Rao Sardar was not capable enough for police service.

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