KARACHI: Two police stations have registered a case against citizens for creating hindrance to a security protocol of President Dr Arif Alvi, officials said on Sunday.

The Sharea Faisal police and the Tipu Sultan police registered separate cases on complaints of traffic police officials.

The cases have been registered under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Gulshan-i-Iqbal SP Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto told Dawn that during arrival of the president to the city on Saturday one citizen tried to break security protocol by riding his vehicle on main Sharea Faisal within the remit of Sharea Faisal police and allegedly instigated other citizens to do the same.

The citizen also allegedly misbehaved with the traffic police official, complainant of the case.

The officer said investigators were trying to obtain closed-circuit television camera footages from the scene to identify the persons involved in it.

The Gulshan SP added that a similar incident also occurred near Nursery on Sharea Faisal within the remit of the Tipu Sultan police station on Friday.

The officer said that they had reports that the persons who tried to create problems wore similar T-shirts.

Meanwhile, President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi expressed his displeasure over the police’s attitude for registering cases against the citizens.

Through his twitter, Dr Arif Alvi said: “FIR against the person protesting against security is ridiculous. When people are inconvenienced they do react.”

On Sept 16 when the president visited the Mazar-i-Quaid to pay his respect to the Father of the Nation attempts were made to intervene in the protocol by inciting people to jump the lights.

The Tipu Sultan police registered a case against the activist of “Fixed it”.

Sources said that activists of Fixed it made interference in the protocol at the Nursary Stop by asking people not to stop on the police direction which was tantamount to interference to the public servants work.

The police said that the person involved was also making a video.

He opened the traffic by removing obstacles for motorcyclists who made their way.

Later, on the directives from higher authorities the Sharea Faisal Traffic Section Sub-Inspector Muhammad Saleem registered a case against unidentified persons.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2018