August 19, 2007	Sunday	Sha’aban 5, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Aug 18: Additional District and Sessions Judge Malik Mohammad Iqbal on Saturday deferred hearing in a case of police harassment till Monday after the Rawat police station SHO refuted the allegations of victimisation.

Chaudhry Aamir Wasim, a resident of Mohra Wains village in Rawat, invoked the court on August 9 for registration of a criminal case against the SHO and an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Mohammad Arshad for threatening and harassing him.

In his petition, Mr Wasim stated that he had a CNG filling station near Mankiala Railway Station that would be affected, like other businesses in the vicinity, if a planned overhead bridge was constructed on the railway crossing.

He said the local businessmen obtained a stay order from a civil court about the construction of the proposed bridge.

He alleged that on August 7 the ASI along with some police constables came to his CNG station in an official vehicle and tried to take him to the police station forcibly. However, the petitioner resisted the move when he learnt that no criminal case had been registered against him.

Mr Wasim said the ASI used filthy language and hurled threats at him. He said in the meantime the area SHO came with heavy police force and trespassed on his office and openly threatened him with dire consequences.

The petitioner also alleged in his complaint that Provincial Law Minister Mohammad Basharat Raja and his brother, Mohammad Nasir Raja, had also threatened him with grim consequences if he did not give up the pursuit of civil case regarding construction of the overhead bridge.

Chaudhry Aamir prayed to the court for registration of a criminal case against the police officials for intimidating him with illegal use of their authority.

The Rawat SHO in his comments said he went to the site on the request of the contractor, who complained that some people were creating hurdles in execution of public works, but left the spot after he learnt that the local businessmen had obtained stay orders.

He said neither the provincial minister had asked him to arrest or harass anybody nor he tried to abduct anyone.