Release of officials, return of vehicles: KP authorities to move IHC to seek remedy

PESHAWAR: Amid an inquiry to ascertain that who had issued orders regarding taking official vehicles and machinery to Islamabad during the protest by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the authorities on Tuesday decided to move the Islamabad High Court today (Wednesday) for return of the impounded vehicles and release of officials.

As many as 17 vehicles of the Rescue 1122, which were part of the convoy of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur during a protest march towards the federal capital, were impounded in Punjab and Islamabad.

Also, 42 employees, including drivers and other staff of the Rescue 1122, were taken into custody for being part of the protesters.

Besides, vehicles of the Peshawar Development Authority, district government and other departments were also impounded and some of their employees were arrested.

“Eleven policemen have also been taken into custody and cases are lodged against them,” said an official.

The federal government had directed the chief secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to conduct an inquiry regarding the use of official vehicles and staff during a political rally and that, too, against the federal government.

“An inquiry is being conducted by the Secretary Relief as to who had issued written or verbal orders regarding the use of the official vehicles of Rescue 1122 during the march,” a source said. The source said the senior officials denied issuing any written order regarding the use of the vehicles.

“The advocate general of the province along with senior officials and lawyers are to file a writ petition in the IHC for getting back the custody of the vehicles as well as to ensure release of its employees,” Bilal Ahmad Faizi, the spokesman for the Rescue 1122, told The News when asked as to what steps had been taken for the release of the employees.

Along with the arrest of 11 policemen, there were reports that 42 employees of Rescue 1122 were arrested by the Punjab police for accompanying the protest rally led by the chief minister KP. There were reports that families of a number of the Rescue 1122 officials held in Punjab and Islamabad protested against the arrest of their loved ones.

Apart from other departments, a large number of policemen along with official vehicles provided security to the chief minister and other cabinet members during the march towards Islamabad.