LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has decided to take Punjab police to task for allegedly torturing and humiliating party chief Imran Khan’s nephews for alleged traffic violation.

In a tweet, Imran said: “I will pursue this case to the very end and expose how the Punjab government is using its police for political victimisation.”

The PTI leadership in Punjab said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had politicised the police that had no option but to obey him and torture people at his behest.

Imran Khan’s nephews Azeem and Abdullah were arrested from Race Course after they had allegedly hurled abuses at a traffic warden who stopped them for violating traffic rules on Wednesday. They were released on bail on Thursday. A case was registered against them for “threatening to kill” and “obstructing the job” of a government official.

Upset over calling his sister to the police station, Imran lambasted Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and held him responsible for turning Punjab Police into a “monster force”. He said Shahbaz Sharif should be ashamed of his actions. He also questioned police’s ‘policy’ of torturing people over traffic violations.

“My nephews were meted out this treatment because of who they are,” he asserted.

Khan also called the whole incident arranged, referring to the media’s immediate arrival at the scene.

edical examination

The Racecourse police on court orders on Friday conducted medical examination of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s nephews at Mian Munshi Hospital.

Azeem and Abdullah were arrested on allegation of torturing a traffic warden, interfering in official work and violating traffic rules. Both brothers were produced before the judicial magistrate and were granted bail.

The arrested youngsters in their statements before the court on Thursday said they were booked in a fabricated case and later traffic wardens and Lahore police officials severely beat them.

The court ordered police to conduct medical examination of both and submit report till next hearing on July 7.

Police authorities earlier also received a complaint from the mother of both youngsters to register a case against policemen and the warden who tortured her sons.

Civil Lines Division SP Haroon Joiya said Mr Khan’s nephews were not tortured by policemen rather they had scuffled with a warden and suffered minor injuries. He said medical examination confirmed scars. He said action would be taken against the warden.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play