KARACHI: A local court on Wednesday accepted charge sheet against eight suspects, including a sitting legislator belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, in a case pertaining to allegedly misbehaving and assaulting a policeman.

Malik Shehzad Awan, a member of the Sindh Assembly from PS-116, has been booked for allegedly misbehaving and assaulting Head Constable Akhtar Hussain and using abusive language against senior police officers within the remit of the Ittehad Town police station on July 22.

On Wednesday, the matter came up before a judicial magistrate (South) who accepted an investigation report filed by the investigating officer under Section 173 of the CrPC.

The judge accepted the charge sheet after examining the police file and case record and issued warrants for arrest of eight nominated suspects.

The IO was directed to arrest them and produce before the court on the next date.

Mr Awan had already obtained pre-arrest bail from district and sessions judge (South) Abdul Naeem Memon.

In the investigation report, the IO charge-sheeted eight suspects, including the legislator, for misbehaving and assaulting the policeman and also using abusive language against senior police officers.

It mentioned that during the course of investigation it transpired that on July 22, SHO Inspector Pervez along with a police party was busy in snap checking when MPA Shehzad Awan called him and complained against HC Akhtar Hussain of the police station.

It further stated that upon reaching the police station, the legislator accompanied by his companions, who had weapons in their hands, was seen sitting there but HC Hussain was not present at that time.

The investigation report mentioned that MPA Awan used abusive language against the senior officers of the police department, adding that the SHO duly informed the high-ups about the situation.

It further mentioned that on July 24 a video clip went viral on the social media, showing MPA Awan threatening HC Akhtar and misbehaving with him and assaulting him. It further mentioned that the PTI lawmaker used abusive language with the policeman, provoking other suspects.

The IO stated that he inspected the place of the incident, recorded the statements of witnesses and collected other evidence that proved the allegations against the lawmaker and other suspects.

Therefore, he requested the court to accept the charge sheet to initiate the trial against them.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2019