London City police looking into Faez Isa ‘attack’ complaint but no action taken yet

LONDON: Pakistan High Commission in London has made a formal complaint – without identifying anyone – to the City of London Police over the protest against Justice (retd) Qazi Faez Isa outside the Middle Temple including the incident involving stopping of the diplomatic car by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists around two weeks ago.

Scotland Yard told this reporter that the incident happened in London in the city area, which is policed by the City of London Police and, therefore, it’s a matter for the City of London Police. Sources said the complaint has been filed with the Diplomatic Police through the City of London police but it can be confirmed that no action has taken place yet and the diplomatic unit of the police is looking into the incident that has unleashed a heavy crackdown by the law enforcement authorities in Pakistan. Several reports said that some arrests have been made and that some activists have been questioned by the police but Geo can confirm that all such speculations are false and the police has neither arrested anyone nor questioned anyone. Trusted sources within the UK law enforcement shared that the complaint it received from Pakistan High Commission has asked the police to identify the alleged “attackers” of Qazi Faez Isa through the widely available footage. It’s understood that Pakistan High Commission has provided the footage to the police but didn’t identify anyone involved in the incident that took place when Qazi Faez Isa was leaving the Middle Temple after attending the event at around 10:20 pm.

This reporter has also learnt that authorities in Pakistan have argued with and questioned the Pakistan High Commission for not identifying the alleged attackers to the diplomatic police. The Pakistan High Commission has said it is following the protocols and has done what’s required and will further update the police when needed.

In Pakistan, the names of 23 people allegedly involved in the London attack on former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa have been added to the Passport Control List (PCL). According to the passport authorities, Pakistani identity papers of 23 people have been revoked. “Process is underway against at least six more individuals and strict action will be taken against them for encouragement and abetment in the attack on Qazi Faez Isa,” a senior official told this reporter.

According to a report in The News and Geo by Asif Bashir Chaudhary, among those listed in the PCL are Shayan Ali and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Malaika Bukhari. Other individuals added to the list include Sadia Faheem, Faheem Gulzar, Maheen Faisal, Sadra Tariq, Habba Tariq, Waqas Chohan, Mohsin Haider, Zameer Akram, Sardar Taimoor, Mohammad Pervez Ali, Rukhsana Kausar, Sheikh Mohammad Jameel, Mehran Habib, Zaheer Ahmad, Rehman Anwar, Mohammad Sadiq Khan, Khadija Kashif, Mohammad Naveed Afzal, Shehzad Qureshi, Suleman Ali Shah, and Bilal Anwar.

This correspondent has seen the list and it can be confirmed that several people mentioned in the list of 23 individuals were neither present at the Middle Temple’s first protest which ended peacefully at 7 pm nor they were present during the incident when Isa’s car was stopped. Maheen Faisal has been living in Dubai for nearly two years and has not taken part in any protest during this time. Waqas Chohan was not present at any of the protests although he has been holding regular protests outside the Pakistan High Commission. Rehman Anwar left for home after the peaceful protest.

The passports of these 23 people have been suspended and they will be arrested and investigated if they enter Pakistan, Pakistani authorities have said. Sources said names of 153 other Pakistanis, who have dual nationality of Britain and Pakistan, have also been added to the passport control list. All those named and added in the PCL have said their protest was lawful and they didn’t break any laws. “The protest was covered by the UK Human Rights laws and didn’t break any rules,” Shayan Ali had told this reporter soon after the protest.