Probe into police torture of Faisalabad protesters launched, Senate told

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

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.

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Ayesha Khan

Jun 13, 2013 12:59am

Suspending only five policemen is not the solution, can anyone think about the agony these poor people are facing since ages. The entire police department is mostly overflowing with such people who exercise their powers on the less fortunate. They are living without the basics of life, no energy, and gas, and when finally they lose their cool, and get up to protest then this is how the police department handles them, and the higher official by only suspending five out of the whole crowd thinks that issue is solved. They can at least on emergency try to less burden the hours of load shedding. And to top it all what is the point of raising the issue of those who are living abroad, what repatriation has to to with the energy crises? Irrelevant point altogether. Frankly speaking the concerned authorities do not wish to take the burden of responsibilities, and simply wants to shift them on others shoulders. Ask all these to go, and spend only a couple of days without gas and electricity, perhaps they might feel the hell in which all these people are living---Once again the hopes, and dreams of people shattered ---

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said

Jun 13, 2013 05:20am

Shame for abusing, dragging, breaking Gates by Sharif Guards are really a dangerous sign police tortures, Look like Oct 1999 when Army jumped on PM house, similar sign on Faisalabad, the started Sham for Sharif Guards. Chief Justice should take action similarly to Wahida Shah.

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