UMERKOT: A leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) manhandled and hurled threats and abuses at Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Nawab Zaid Talpur in a late night ‘attack’ on sub-jail where he was detained in a case of attack on Kunri police station, said a press release issued by PTI Umerkot chapter on Monday.

The PPP leader Shakeel Bajwa, who was also chairman of Kunri town committee, stormed the sub-jail under police protocol at the behest of Nawab Taimoor Talpur, PPP MPA and advisor to Sindh chief minister.

He subjected the PTI leader to manhandling and humiliation and threatened that he would have to face serious consequences if he did not stop spreading ‘propaganda’ against his leaders, said the statement, adding that Mr Talpur was being shifted to Mirpurkhas jail without giving any reason.

The district and sessions court has issued orders to shift Mr Talpur to Mirpurkhas after Umerkot mukhtiarkar, who is also in-charge of the sub-jail, submitted an application to the court, accusing Mr Talpur of forcing the jail staff to provide him unlawful facilities and ransacking the jail premises.

Umerkot SSP Aijaz Usman Bajwa rejected PTI allegations of attack on the sub-jail or on Mr Talpur and said that only exchange of harsh words took place between Shakeel Bajwa and Mr Talpur.

The official said that he had suspended the police guards deployed at the sub-jail in the wake of the unpleasant incident. Mr Talpur had been shifted to Mirpurkhas, he added.

Nawab Zaid Talpur was accused of storming Kunri police station and humiliating station house officer on June 2. A video clip purportedly showing him seated in the SHO’s seat and the police official standing and meekly listening to him went viral afterwards.

Mr Talpur was among six persons, including his son and colleagues, who were nominated in an FIR lodged on behalf of state after Supreme Court of Pakistan took notice of the incident.

Umerkot police placed the PTI leader under arrest on July 22 after the district and sessions judge declined to confirm interim bail granted to him by Sindh High Court.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2017