RAWALPINDI: The family of a man who died during a police crackdown against kite flying in Sadiqabad on Friday placed his body in front of the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and blocked traffic in protest against the police.

According to Mohammad Ashraf, the brother of 50-year-old Mohammad Aslam, a police party entered the victim’s house to arrest his two sons who the police claim were flying kites.

Aslam is said to have been punched by a policeman which caused heart failure. The victim was pronounced dead at BBH, outside of which his family staged a sit-in. They shouted slogans and blocked traffic on Murree Road for more than an hour. Two ambulances which were transporting patients in critical condition were also stuck in the traffic jam and the patients’ family members had to appeal to the protesters to give way to the ambulances.

The protesters gave way to the two ambulances after the intervention of senior police officials and moved towards Chandni Chowk, where they resumed their sit-in. They dispersed after senior police officials ensured them that those found responsible will be held to account. The police deny the family’s claims.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2017