ISLAMABAD: Two more cases – one each against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) – were registered with Secretariat police station on charges of kidnapping and beating up policemen.

A case was registered against PAT Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri and Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Nasir Abbas besides their five activists for kidnapping and beating up a policeman.

In his complaint, the victim, Constable Hafiz Mohammad Qasim deputed with Special Branch, said he was performing his duty at PTV Chowk near Constitution Avenue when five people with security cards of PAT and MWM pinned approached him.

They sought his identification which he provided.

“Then I was overpowered and blindfolded and later taken to the sit-in area,” he said, adding that after being brought there his hands were tied and five workers started questioning him.

One of them then went to Dr Qadri and Allama Abbas to seek orders from them about him, and when he returned after 35 minutes, the workers started beating him, saying this was what their leaders had asked them to do, the complainant said.

“I was undressed and hung upside down and subjected to torture,” he alleged, adding that “later when I regained conscious, I found myself in a hospital”.

Acting on the complaint, the police registered a case.

Similarly, another case was registered against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf activists in response to a complaint lodged by Head Constable Asghar Shahzad.

The complainant stated that he was performing his duty at the Parliament Lodges when 70 Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf activists attacked him.

He further added that he was beaten up and Rs5,600 cash, mobile phone and official card snatched from him.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2014