ISLAMABAD: Deputy Inspector of Police Tariq Masood Yaseen on Wednesday assumed the charge of the inspector general of Islamabad police from where he was unceremoniously removed about nine years ago.

Officials in the police told Dawn that Mr Yaseen refused to follow orders of his seniors to intercept the then chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, after the latter’s sacking in 2007.When contacted, IGP Yaseen confirmed the event of 2007 and added: “Allah has been kind and showered His blessing on me.”

Mr Yaseen was serving in the Islamabad police as the SSP (security) when the then chief justice of Pakistan was sacked and detained along with other judges.

Police officials said: “On March 7, 2007, Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was going home from the Army House Rawalpindi. After reaching Zero Point, he asked his driver to move towards the Supreme Court instead of going to his residence in the Judicial Colony.”

When the CJ reached near the Sports Complex, an army vehicle intercepted him. In the meantime, SSP Yaseen also appeared there and ordered the CJ’s driver to come out so that he could drive the CJ’s vehicle. The CJ’s gunman was also asked to disembark.

This event was part of the record and also mentioned in an affidavit submitted by the former CJ to the apex court, said the officials. Later, the CJ agreed not to go to the SC on the condition that his driver would be allowed to drive him home along with the gunman. So Mr Yaseen allowed the driver to take the CJ home.

On March 13, 2007, all senior officers of the police, including the then IGP and the SSP operation, along with senior officers of the capital administration had gathered in the Judicial Colony when the CJ came out of his residence and started walking towards the apex court as his official vehicles had been taken away the previous day. However, Mr Yaseen avoided intercepting the CJ.

When directed by his senior officers, Mr Yaseen refused to physically intercept the CJ, a police officer who was present there added. He said senior police officers, including the then IGP, abused Mr Yaseen in front of his juniors, calling him a coward.

The then IGP even poked Mr Yaseen with his stick and asked him to intercept the CJ, but he refused.

Later, he was removed from the post and a number of raids were conducted at his house to insult him in front of his family. Besides, he and his family also faced a tough time in the hands of the then government and the establishment for months.

It may be mentioned that some of the senor police officers accused of manhandling the CJ have retired and others are still serving in the police. Recently, the apex court refused to pardon the accused.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2016