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12 Jumada Al-Awwal 1446  

Scuffle between army officers, Motorway police: matter under investigation: ISPR

Photo: FILE Photo: FILE

The military said on Monday that it is investigating a reported scuffle between army officers and personnel of Motorway police, vowing that "law will take its course in disposing of the case and justice will be done".

Referring to an incident of a scuffle between officials of Motorway police and two young Army officers, a spokesman for ISPR said, "The matter is being inquired. Law will take its course in disposing of the case and justice will be done".

In a letter addressed to Inspector General (IG) National Highways and Motorways Police (NHMP) Islamabad, zonal commander Ahmad Mukhtar Khan informed the IG that on a written complaint of SI/PO Atif Khattak, FIR No 1114 dated September 10, 2016 has been registered under sections 279, 186, 353, 506, 365, 342, 148 and 149 of Pakistan Penal Code in the Police Station, Akora Khattak, District Nowshera.

"The case is under investigation in police station Akora Khattak and progress of the case will be reported accordingly," he further said in a purported letter, which was widely circulated on the internet.

About the incident, he informed the IG that Sector Commander North-I, has reported that on September 10, 2016 at about 1400 hours, the officers of E-I, SI/PO Atif Khattak and SI/PO Nasir Khan were on their routine patrol duty near Nodia when they were informed through a wireless message by APO Jalal Shah that one Corolla car bearing registration No LED-776 and another Honda car, bearing registration number UA-916 were being recklessly driven on the south bound carriageway approaching Jahangira.

The officer of Eagle-I, SI/PO Atif Khattak signalled the above mentioned cars at Nodia south bound but the drivers accelerated the speed, he added.

He further wrote that the officers followed the cars and stopped them near Ittefaq Kanta. In the meanwhile, APO Jalal Shah also reached the spot in official vehicle IDP-1770.

He wrote that when the officers approached to convey the drivers about their violation of law and issue them tickets, the two drivers became rash. One of them, who was later identified as Captain Qasim, was armed with a 9mm pistol. "They alighted from their cars in an aggressive and hostile manner and pointed pistol at the police officers. The other was identified as Captain Danial," he added.

One of them made a mobile telephone call and after a short while 25-26 army personnel in uniform armed with rifles and batons in four official army vehicles under the supervision of a Major, who, later identified as Major Zafran, reached there, the DSP said, adding one of the vehicles bore No Broad Arrow 07 GJ 2855.

On arrival at the scene the army personnel assaulted the officers with butts and batons, he further wrote, adding the officers of the Eagle-II, namely SI/PO Mohsin Toori and PO Qaiser Khan were called, who along with fine collection unit staff namely Shah Zeb and Sher Ali reached the spot.

During the assault at the police officers, he said, APO Jalal Shah and fine collection unit officials received injuries on vital parts while APO Jalal Shah's uniform was torn.

"Later on the army personnel forcibly took the police officers namely SI/PO Atif Khattak SI/PO Mohsin Toori, APO Jalal Shah and Shah Zeb, fine collection unit in their official vehicles to the Attock Fort along with NH&MP official vehicle IDP-1770 and 3 SMGs," he said.

"In the Attock Fort, the NH&MP officers were detained for considerable time in wrongful confinement before being released by the intervention of the senior officers," the DSP further maintained in the letter, adding SI/PO Atif Khattak, APO Jalal Shah and Shah Zeb were referred to DHQ Hospital Nowshera for medico-legal reports and treatment.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2016