SHO among five suspended over Gohar house raid

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad police said on Sunday that five officers, including the Margalla police station SHO, were suspended a day after a “mistaken” raid at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan’s residence in Islamabad.

A special force of the Islamabad police on Saturday conducted a raid at the house of Barrister Gihar in Islamabad’s F/7-2 area to arrest absconders involved in the May 9 violence and other anti-state activities. The police manhandled the family of Barrister Gohar, damaged property and took away valuable documents, mobile phones and laptop, Barrister Gohar’s relatives told the media.

Gohar was pleading PTI’s electoral symbol at the time police raided his house. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa had also expressed concern over the incident and directed the additional attorney general (AGP) to look into the matter.

In a statement on Sunday, the capital police said on the afternoon of January 13 (Saturday) at 2:00pm, the local police reached F-7/2 to apprehend a proclaimed offender on a tip-off. When the police party came to know that the house was the residence of Barrister Gohar, the raiding police party came back immediately, the statement added.

CJP Isa had summoned the Islamabad Capital City Police Officer (ICCPO) and ordered an investigation into the matter. “The honourable court directed the ICCPO to personally hear the grievance of chairman PTI about the incident,” it added. The statement said the PTI leader was assured that departmental action would be taken if any police officer was found guilty.

The DPO city has been appointed as an inquiry officer with directions to hold a fact-finding inquiry into the matter and submit a detailed report within three days. “After a preliminary inquiry, 5 officers, including SHO Margalla, have been suspended until further orders. An inquiry is being conducted and strict action will be taken against officials who violated the law.”