Probe into police torture of Faisalabad protesters launched, Senate told

Published June 13, 2013
Angry traders and workers chant slogans next to burning tires during a demonstration against long hours breakdown of natural gas and electricity. — Photo by AP
Angry traders and workers chant slogans next to burning tires during a demonstration against long hours breakdown of natural gas and electricity. — Photo by AP

ISLAMABAD: The Senate was told Wednesday that probe into the police torture of protesters against electricity outages in Faisalabad has been launched and five policemen have already been suspended.

Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) leader Senator Raza Rabbani drew the house's attention to the incident in which policemen, holding axe and batons, were seen torturing citizens who were protesting against the prolonged electricity loadshedding.

A large number of people from villages around Khurrianwala town vented their anger against power outages on Tuesday and attacked a grid station and offices of the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco). They blocked traffic on the Sheikhupura-Faisalabad road for about 10 hours and pelted police and vehicles with stones, causing injuries to four constables.

Police chased the protesters, entered a number of houses by scaling the walls or breaking open the gates and thrashed anyone they found there.

Policemen are reported to have abused and dragged women when they objected to their conduct.

A number of women and children who had not joined the protests were also mistreated.

More than 10 people were arrested from the houses.

IN today’s session of the Senate, Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq said Chief Minster Punjab Shahbaz Sharif had taken notice of the incident and suspended five policemen.

He said the investigation had been launched into the incident and action would be taken against those found involved.

Haq hoped that the incident would not be repeated in future. However, he added that the resolution of energy crisis was prerequisite in this regard.

He assured the upper house of parliament for maximum presence of the cabinet members during its proceedings, who would also responsibly respond to member's queries.

Later, Senator Babar Awan said the government should take notice of the planned repatriation of thousands of Pakistanis staying in Saudi Arabia as the overseas Pakistanis were the backbone of country's economy.

Opinion

Editorial

Paying the price
Updated 18 Apr, 2025

Paying the price

Pakistan is trapped in a relentless cycle of climate volatility.
Political solution
18 Apr, 2025

Political solution

THOUGH the BNP-M may have ended its 20-day protest sit-in outside Quetta on Wednesday, the core issues affecting...
Grave desecration
18 Apr, 2025

Grave desecration

THE desecration of 85 Muslim graves at a cemetery in Hertfordshire in the UK is a distressing act that deserves the...
Double-edged sword
Updated 17 Apr, 2025

Double-edged sword

While remittances have provided critical support to current account, they have also been a double-edged sword.
Besieged people
17 Apr, 2025

Besieged people

DESPITE all the talk about becoming a ‘hard’ state, Pakistan is still looking incredibly soft when it comes to...
Deadly zealotry
Updated 17 Apr, 2025

Deadly zealotry

Murdering people and attacking firms is indefensible and only besmirches the Palestinian cause.