ISLAMABAD: A woman constable was assaulted by a member of the National Assembly at the Parliament Lodges on Tuesday, police said.

The incident took place at the gate of the Parliament Lodges, where the woman constable – identified as Afshan – was deputed.

DSP for Parliament Lodges Ghulam Rasool told Dawn that there had been a heated exchange between National Peoples Party MNA Shahjehan Mangrio and the woman constable, which led to ‘an incident’.

Mrs Mangrio, who hails from Sukkur and was elected to parliament on a reserved seat, resides in suite E-403 at the lodges.

According to the DSP, the altercation began after the constable refused to go see the MNA in her room. He said that senior police officials had been notified of the incident.

SSP Security Mir Waiz Niaz told Dawn that police were “holding an inquiry to fix responsibility” in the matter.

Sources said the MNA had asked the constable to facilitate a guest who was to call on her. However, the guest was not given any protocol and reportedly had to wait at the gate, which incensed the lawmaker, who summoned the woman constable to her rooms.

A senior officer, on condition of anonymity, said that a report of the incident had been sought from the DSP Parliament Lodges for further action.

“We have decided to bring the MNA’s highhandedness to the attention of the National Assembly speaker and will also look to initiate legal action against her,” he added.

Mrs Mangrio was not available for comment. A woman – who identified herself as Naila, the MNA’s personal secretary – answered her phone. When asked to comment on the incident, she said, “I am with madam and no such incident took place”.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2015

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