KARACHI: As the video showing a woman being slapped apparently by a policeman went viral on the social media, the provincial authorities sprang into action on Wednesday and arrested him after identifying the location and those involved in the incident.

Karachi-South DIG Dr Jamil Ahmed told Dawn that the man was neither a policeman nor was he posted at any police station in the metropolis. Instead he was a Police Qaumi Razakar (PQR), Akbar, who performed civilian duties, the officer said.

He added that he was arrested in Hijrat Colony late Wednesday night.

The officer said the incident had occurred at Gulf Shopping Centre in Clifton on Muharram 7. He explained that the woman had allegedly committed a theft and had been booked in an identical case last year. Last Wednesday, she again visited the shopping centre where the shopkeepers ‘identified’ her and got hold of her. The shopping centre’s union also became involved in the incident. In the meantime, the man wearing a T-shirt inscribed with the word ‘police’ started grilling her and slapped her across the face.

The DIG said justice would be provided to the woman who had been slapped. He added: “Now when the suspect has been arrested, the police will record the statement of the woman.”

Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah took a serious notice of the incident in which the ‘policeman’ was shown subjecting the woman to torture, according to a CM House spokesperson. “The provincial chief executive has expressed his extreme anger over the incident,” said the official. “How can a policeman slap a woman?” asked the chief minister, while seeking a report from the Sindh police chief.

Published in Dawn October 29th, 2015

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