ISLAMABAD: In a ceremony held at Police Lines Headquarters, on Wednesday, policemen were rewarded for good performance during the political sit-ins outside the parliament last year.

However, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohammad Ali Nekokara and Superintendent of Police Mustansar Feroz, who allegedly refused to use force against the protesters and SSP Asmatullah Junejo, who was injured during the protests, were missing from the ceremony.

Read: Govt dismisses cop who refused to use force against PAT, PTI protesters

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was the chief guest at the ceremony where 186 police personnel from the ranks of SP to constable were presented cash rewards ranging from Rs20,000 to Rs200,000 as well as commendation certificates. Over 500 others were awarded cash rewards of between Rs10,000 and Rs15,000.

Cash rewards of Rs200,000 were presented to five officials including SP Capt (retired) Mohammad Ilyas and former SSP Junejo’s gunman Constable Sajjad who was beaten and injured on September 1, by the protesters.

Also read: Protesters deliver psychological blow to police force

SSP Nekokara supervised security at the protests with a force of 23,000 officials, from August 15 to 30, but was not considered for an award as he was dismissed from service.

Police officials told Dawn that following SSP Nekokara’s dismissal, SP Ilyas was asked to take the post of SSP Islamabad but he refused.

Later, SSP Junejo took up the post of SSP Islamabad in Nekokara’s stead. However, he was beaten by the protesters the next day and was seriously injured. He remained hospitalised for 10 days and received 21 stitches on his head. Today, he still suffers from hemotoma, as a result of his injuries.

SP Junejo was suspended from service on January 1, on the directives of the interior minister, on the pretext that he was involved in the release of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jammat’s Rawalpindi president from police custody.

Sources in the police said the inquiry conducted over the release of the ASWJ Rawalpindi president by Assistant Inspector General of Police Dr Sultan Azam Temuri had found Superintendent of Police Rural, then Sub-Divisional Police Officer Shahzad Town, and then Station House Officer and Additional SHO guilty of negligence.

While SSP Junejo had not been named in this report, he was still suspended and his salary was stopped.

According to sources, the release of the ASWJ Rawalpindi president was used as an excuse and the real reason for his suspension were his differences with the IGP.

Police officials told Dawn that on December 18, a letter was issued from the office of the Inspector General of Police, signed by Assistant Inspector General of Police Sultan Azam Temuri with the subject ‘Deployment at Nakas’.

The letter was quoted as stating, “the Inspector General of Police, Islamabad has directed to avoid registration of cases against those carrying one bottle of liquor and a small amount of hash”. The order was sent to the office of SSP Islamabad for immediate implementation in all zones.

In response, SSP Asmatuallah Junejo wrote back saying “this is an illegal order and cannot be implemented”. Later, orders were sent to all the SPs stating “all zonal SPs are directed for strict compliance as per law”.

According to police officials, the SSP developed serious differences with the IGP who requested the interior minister to remove SSP Junejo from his post as he was not complying with the orders.

Also read: Police officers suspended for releasing ASWJ Pindi leader

Later, the release of the ASWJ Rawalpindi president was used as a pretext to suspend him from his post.

A police official told Dawn that those found guilty of negligence, in the original report, were reinstated and continue to serve on the force.

SP Feroz, who was the SP City at the time of the political sit-ins, was removed from the post on October 22, 2013.

On August 29, 2014 SP Feroz was asked by the acting IGP Khalid Khattak to participate in the action against the protesters, along with SSP Nekokara. However, when action was started against the protesters, he refused to participate and developed serious differences with the acting IGP.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2015

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