November 23, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 1, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, Nov 22: A car of the Rawal Town Municipal Administration was impounded and later released by the local police on Wednesday for using a blue revolving light.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rana Shahid signalled the car installed with a revolving light to stop near Liaquat Bagh, but the driver ignored the orders and continued moving towards the Town Municipal Administration (TMA) offices.

However, the DSP forced the driver to stop the vehicle after a brief chase.

When questioned, the driver claimed that he was following the Rawal Town nazim, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq. Within minutes, the nazim himself reached the scene and told the police officer that he was officially allowed to use a blue light. But he failed to convince the DSP.

Observing that Mr Shahid would not release the car and its driver, the nazim offered himself to be booked.

“He (the nazim) told me to lodge an FIR against him, but I said that he was not the one who violated the ban,” the DSP said.

Later, the white-coloured car was driven to a police station, but the police had to release the car and its driver on the intervention of high-ups.

Rashid Shafiq, when contacted, said the vehicle stopped by the police was in the use of TMA’s anti-encroachment staff. “But on my intervention, the DSP released the car,” he added.

Mr Shafiq said he was chairing a meeting when the incident occurred, adding that the impounded car was not escorting him.

In a late night move, DSP City Rana Shahid was removed from the City Circle - apparently in retaliation to checking Rawal Town Nazim’s escort car which was violating ban on using “blue revolving light” - and was directed to take charge of Cantonment Circle.

The Assistant Superintendent Police Rizwan Manzoor would replace the DSP in City Circle, official sources said.

The move came about after the chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi was informed by PML-Q group nazims about Wednesday’s impolite incident involving Rawal Town Nazim Rashid Shafiq and DSP Rana Shahid.