SSP, SHO put on notice on PTI leader’s plea against maltreatment

A sessions court has issued a notice to the Malir senior superintendent of police (SSP) and Sohrab Goth SHO on an application filed by Karachi Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Raja Azhar seeking registration of an FIR over police's alleged maltreatment of him and other party leaders.

The former MPA had filed the application under the Section 22-A and B of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) naming DSP Chaudhry Suhail Faiz and Sohrab Goth SHO Wazir Ali Samo as proposed accused persons.

The applicant through his lawyer Khalid Mehmood stated that on November 8, 2024, he along with fellow party members and supporters had peacefully gathered at a vacant ground opposite Al-Asif Square, Sohrab Goth, preparing for departure to attend the party's rally in Swabi.

Suddenly, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Chaudhry Suhail Faiz and Sohrab Goth SHO Wazir Ali Samo, along with uniformed police personnel and armed plain clothed- men arrived there in police mobiles, he said.

He claimed that the proposed accused began verbally abusing, pushing and manhandling him and his companions, treating them like criminals without any provocation or legal justification. During this unprovoked assault, the applicant said that the uniformed officers along with their armed plain-clothed accomplices physically assaulted him, subjected him to derogatory insults and forcibly detained him along with his companions in police mobiles. They further seized cash amounting to Rs170,000 from him at gunpoint while transporting him to the police station, he added.

After this unlawful detention, he said he and his companions were taken to the police station where they were held without any lawful justification. Later, a fabricated case was lodged against them.

He submitted that he sent an application to police officials, requesting action against the DSP, SHO and their accomplices, however, no action had been taken so far, leaving him and his party members vulnerable to further harm.

"In the circumstances the respondent No.2 [SHO] has also made negligence of duty and violated the mandatory provisions of law and deprived the petitioner of his fundamental rights, therefore action may be taken against the proposed accused persons above named," he said, pleading with the court to order the registration of an FIR against the proposed accused persons. The sessions court (Malir) issued a notice to the official respondents to submit their reply on the application.