LAHORE, June 2: The Ghalib Market police on Thursday reported to additional district and sessions judge Mian Khadim Husain, who is an ex-officio justice of peace, that they prevented the illegal mini-marathon on May 14. Submitting a report, the ASP and the SHO stated that no untoward incident took place during the rally, and the allegation by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Chairperson Asma Jahangir that her modesty was outraged, was false.

The justice of peace adjourned further administrative proceedings of the HRCP chairperson’s complaint till June 9. DSP Rehana, whom Ms Jahangir had particularly mentioned in the complaint as responsible for manhandling her, submitted that she would also submit a separate reply to the allegation.

The HRCP chairperson moved the justice of peace through Advocate Azam Nazir Tarar with a request that a criminal case should be registered against DSP Rehana and other police officials who baton-charged the rally organized for an awareness about the fundamental rights of women.

The police stated that it did not take any action on the application moved by Ms Jahangir on May 16 because no such action was required, as the rally terminated peacefully. As for the SSP (investigations), he denied having received any such application on May 17.

The Ghalib Market police replied that they performed their legal duty of protecting lives and properties of citizens. They said when participants in the rally tried to take law in their own hand, the police had to react in line with the call of the duty.

The justice of peace is seized of the complaint, which was moved in the light of a Lahore High Court observation last month that before filing a writ petition in the high court, Ms Jahangir should avail herself of an alternative remedy of registration of an FIR by moving the justice of peace, who was authorized to issue such orders.

The HRCP chairperson contended that DSP Rehana and some other police officials who could be identified with the help of photographs published in the press on Jan 15, had maltreated her and others during a rally at the Main Boulevard, Gulberg, on May 14.—Correspondent