Rawalpindi - PML-N ex-MNA and Chairman Metro Bus Project Muhammad Hanif Abbasi along with 400 workers attacked Police Station New Town, broke windowpanes and made SHO hostage to obtain forceful release of two of their workers who were arrested on charges of one-wheeling by traffic police.

The irate supporters of PML-N on the nod of Muhammad Hanif Abbsi also pelted the police station building with stones and bricks and ransacked reporting room and threw police record out. They also chanted slogans against police. The charged supporters of PML-N also thrashed the policemen who were on duty. Instead of initiating action against the attackers, top cops of Rawalpindi police punished SHO PS New Town Asghar Chandio and transferred him to Police Line for implementing the orders of Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Mian Shehbaz Sharif of taking strict action against those who are found involved in one-wheeling in the city.

A superintendent of police (SP) also seized all the record against one-wheelers caught by wardens from police station and barred his subordinates from taking any action against the attackers in a bid to safe the skin of his “political masters” who took law into hand by storming into police station, sources disclosed to The Nation yesterday.

According to sources, traffic wardens have caught three youngsters who were showing stunts on motorcycles near PML-N Youth Convention that was being organised by city chapter of ruling party at Commercial Market. They said that the wardens shifted the accused to police station with complaints seeking FIRs against them. Meanwhile, PML-N leaders Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Malik Shakil Awan, Zia Ullah Shah, Haji Pervaiz, elected members of local bodies and 400 other supporters stormed into police station and smashed the windowpanes of Front Desk set up for dispensing speedy justice to crime victims. Later, the attackers attacked office of SHO and made him hostage and forced him to release three PML-N workers. The attackers also beat cops in the police station. Upon refusal, some attackers ransacked Reporting Room and threw police record outside. They also pelted the police station building with stones and bricks.  The news of attack on police station spread like jungle fire as SSP (Operations) Irfan Tariq, SP Rawal Division Malik Muhammad Iqbal and DSP New Town Circle Raja Taifoor reached the scene and negotiated with the attackers. The detained youngsters were released on pressure of attackers, they informed.

They said SSP Irfan Tariq appreciated the efforts of SHO Asghar and asked him to perform his duty as per law. However, SP Malik Muhammad Iqbal ordered SHO to report in police line soon after SSP Irfan left the scene.

No action has been taken against the attackers because of political pressure on top cops of Rawalpindi police, sources said.

City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Ahmed Khan Abbasi, when contacted for his comments, said that he transferred SHO to police line in a bid to avoid further tension as well as for his esteem and respect.

On a query, the CPO replied police had not picked up 70 participants from Youth Convention or tried to shave off their heads rather wardens arrested three youngsters on charges of showing stunts on motorcycles. “The law will take its course come what may,” Israr said in response to another question. Hanif Abbasi, while talking to The Nation, rebuffed the allegations. He said that police picked up participants of Youth Convention and locked them up without any reason. He said that later police released the detainees. Coming down hard of the CPO, Hanif said CPO intentionally posted an officer like SHO Asghar Chandio in his area who had been transferred from Taxila and Jhelum on charges of misconduct.  He said that police lodged FIR against an accused who was later released by a court. “CPO shows cold shoulder response to political leadership whenever he is told about misconduct of faulty police officers,” he said. Abbasi said police could obtain CCTV record to establish the reality as who attacked police station.  On the other hand, the traders, political leaders and people belonging to various walks of life condemned the move of Hanif Abbasi and other PML-N workers. They said that politicians should not take law into hand and should obey the law enforcement agencies. They said that on one hand CM Shehbaz Sharif has been claiming for good governance while on the other, his own party men are violating law and attacking police. They demanded the CM and IGP Punjab to take action against Hanif Abbasi and others.