LAHORE - The shoe-attack by three religious activists on former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at a seminary in Lahore on Sunday was “carefully” planned, a police report revealed on Monday.
The suspects were charged by police in criminal act on three accounts – attacking another person with intention to dishonor him (spreading religious hatred), destroying public order and hurling threats – with proper planning.
The attackers were sent to jail by a local court on Monday after the police registered a criminal case against them under section 355/506/34 of the PPC and 16 MPO. If convicted on all charges, they could be given up to seven years imprisonment, or with fine, or with both.
In the FIR, the attackers were named by police as Hafiz Munawar Hussain, the man who threw the shoe that hit the former PM and Abdul Ghafoor, a resident of Azad Kashmir who also tried to hurl shoe at Nawaz Sharif but his attempt by foiled by security men. The third accused person was identified as Muhammad Sajid, a resident of Baseerpur district Okara.
Two of the three attackers were said to be members of the event organizing committee while the third man was a student of the seminary. All the three men were captured by security officials immediately after the assault on Sunday. They were sent to jail on 14-day judicial remand by a court as the police produced the suspects before a court on Monday.
According to the first information report, “Three men after proper planning attacked Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif by using a shoe to insult him. The attackers were found committing acts to destroy public order and create fear and panic among public besides spreading religious hatred.”
Meanwhile, A Cantonment court judicial-magistrate on Monday sent to jail on 14-day judicial remand to three person accused of throwing shoe at former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his visit of a seminary Jamia Naeemia in Ghari Shahu.
Qila Gujjar Singh police produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate Zartasha Bugti three accused including Abdul Ghafoor, Munawar Hussain and Muhammad Sajid over charges of hurling shoe at Nawaz Sharif when he was coming to the rostrum to address the audience at the seminary.
Police pleaded the court for judicial remand saying that no investigation was required into the matter of the accused as no physical remand was required for their investigation. At this, the court allowed the plea and sent them to the jail on judicial remand for two weeks.
The suspects were charged by police under sections 34/355/506 of the PPC and section 16 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order 1960.
According to section 34 of the PPC, “Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention. (When a criminal act is done by several persons, in furtherance of the common intention of all, each such person is liable for that act in the same manner as if it were done by him alone.) THE Punishment for section 506 and 355 of the PPC is explained as below. “Whoever commences the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both. The section 355 of the PPC says, “Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation. “Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person, intending thereby to dishonour that person, otherwise than on grave and sudden provocation given by that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.”
The 16 MPO relates to Dissemination of rumours, etc. – “Whoever–(a) makes any speech, or (b) by words whether spoken or written or by signs or by visible or audible representations or otherwise publishes any statement, rumour or report, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both if such speech, statement, rumour, or report– causes or is likely to cause fear or alarm to the public or to any section of the public; furthers or is likely to further any activity prejudicial to public safety or the maintenance of public order.”