ISLAMABAD, July 28: The capital police beat up two persons at Daman-i-Koh for having ‘soft drinks’ during the time of fasting.

The incident was reported to Inspector General of Police (IGP) who has assured to take action against the officials, Dawn has learnt.

The victim Anwar Abbas, while talking to Dawn said that on Friday at around 2pm he went to Daman-i-Koh along with his friend Malik Saeed and was having soft drink in his car.

Mr Abbas said: “I was not fasting and knowing that it would be ethically incorrect to have drink in front of people so I chose a place where no one was present.

“In the meantime, a police constable came and said taking drinks during fasting is a violation of Ramazan Act and a serious crime,” he said adding he  told him (constable) that he was not fasting and taking drinks at an isolated place where no one was present.  “I also told him that it was not their job to stop anyone from eating during the time of fasting but constable insisted that he has to implement the teachings of Islam,” he said.

“The constable called two other police officials and they took us to the nearby police post,” he said adding “at the check post heated arguments ensued and they removed their belts and started beating us.”

After a while, when the policemen felt that the situation was getting out of control, they let them go.

The victims said they reported the matter to the Kohsar police SHO and then to the capital IG Bani Amin Khan who assured them that action would be taken against the police officials.

On the other hand, the police officials have started offering apologies and their seniors are also approaching us to withdraw the complaint against the officials, he said.

A police officer requesting anonymity said that the act of police officials was against the law and ethics. “We condemn when Taliban do the same act but now police are doing it in federal capital which shows the presence of hardliners in the law enforcement agencies,” he said.

Human Rights Activist, Tahira Abdullah condemned the police brutality and said Ziaul Haq’s regime first disallowed eating at public places in daytime during Ramazan.

“We have to involve 180 million people and build a consensus for a Pakistan the Quaid-i-Azam dreamt,” she said.

Former General Secretary of Islamabad Distract Bar Association, Riasat Ali Azad said that there was no provision in Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) that prohibited eating at public places.

“It is a religious and moral obligation of a citizen to avoid eating but police cannot restrict them by force. Just like it is our duty to say prayers five times a day but police cannot force any person to go in the mosque,” he said.

Inspector General of Police Bani Amin Khan said in response to the complaint he had ordered inquiry into the incident. “On Saturday I have been informed by the police officers that both complainants are ready to have a patch up. If complainants withdraw their application, case will be closed,” he said.