LAHORE: Chief Traffic Officer Rai Ijaz Ahmad on Sunday suspended a warden from service for torturing a motorist.

Kamran, a resident of Mozang, was going somewhere when he was stopped by traffic warden Shahid on Lytton Road. The motorist and the warden went into an argument over which the latter started beating the former and injured him. The warden did not take the motorist to the hospital for treatment but called the area police and handed him over to them. The Lytton road police put the motorist into the lockup.

The CTO took notice of the incident when news was aired on various news channels. He suspended the warden from service and directed Saddar traffic circle Superintendent of Police Sardar Asif to hold inquiry into the matter and submit its report to him. He said no one would be allowed to take law into their hands and further action would also be taken against the warden if found guilty.

PROTEST: A rickshaw driver climbed an electricity pole to protest what he said unfair challan in front of Model Town Katchery on Sunday.

Amin, 55, who belongs to Jhang, climbed the pole in the morning in Naseerabad police area in front of Model Town Katchery. A number of people, rickshaw drivers, media persons, police and rescue teams reached the spot and inquire about the reason.

Model Town SP Ismail Kharak also reached the spot and assured Amin that he would help sort out the matter. The protester remained at the pole for more than two hours and was taken down by rescue teams while using a trolley used for fire-fighting.

Saddar Traffic Division SP Sardar Asif, along with the protester, later held a press conference and said the incident was brought into notice of Chief Traffic Officer Rai Ijaz Ahmad who ordered that the protester be given a sympathetic hearing. He said Amin also cited political turmoil as another reason for his protest.

Model Town DSP Nazar Abbas said they would have medical examination of the man.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2017