THATTA, Sept 21: A French research scholar was beaten up by the district police officer (investigation) in the presence of her guide and police personnel in his office here on Friday.
Ms Florence alias Farida Boryak, who holds dual nationality of France and Turkey, has been in Pakistan for about six months in connection with her research on Buddhism and Sufism in the subcontinent.
About four days ago, her research papers and valuables were stolen from the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ashabi in Makli.
She went to the office of the DPO investigation to find out if there had been any progress in the case. MPA Sassui Paleejo also arrived at the place to help the elderly scholar and asked the DPO about the case. Ms Paleejo was enraged by what she termed the harsh response of the DPO and left the office saying she would take up the issue in the provincial assembly.
Soon after Ms Paleejo left, the DPO started abusing Ms Florence who got upset and tried to leave the office. But, according to some witnesses, the DPO grabbed her and started beating her with a shoe. He is also reported to have punched and kicked her.
Ms Florence fell on the floor, but the police officer continued thrashing her as her guide Wazir Qureshi appealed to him to let her go. “Sir, she will die, for God’s sake leave her.”
The DPO then asked the guide to escort her home (Wazir Qureshi’s home) and warned him to keep quiet.
As Mr Qureshi brought her to his home, dozens of reporters, who had heard about the incident, came there to interview. It is reported that a woman constable, an ASI and others who didn’t want to be named, confirmed that the incident had taken place.
The guide contacted the RPO, Hyderabad, who told him that an SP would conduct an inquiry and he himself would come to Thatta.
The incident has been condemned by leaders of public opinion district nazim Syed Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi, Ms Paleejo and another provincial legislator, Humera Alwani.
Meanwhile, DPO investigation Shaukat Shahani has categorically denied having beaten the scholar and alleged that she was a drug addict and mentally unstable. He also said that police were investigating the theft of research papers.
Talking to Dawn, he said that police had taken up the case and accused Ms Florence of politicising the matter.
