TAXILA: Two people on a motorcycle were allegedly physically assaulted by traffic wardens on Haider Road in the Wah Cantonment.

According to CCTV footage of the incident circulated online, two young men on a motorcycle were intercepted by two uniformed traffic wardens and forced to stop in the middle of the road.

The wardens then threw the men off the motorcycle and beat them before bystanders and other motorists who had gathered at the scene intervened to save the men.

The footage of the incident was recorded by a CCTV camera as a nearby filling station. It went viral on Facebook, particularly on pages associated with Taxila and Wah.

One of the victims, Hamza Ahmed, told Dawn that he and a friend were near a traffic signal near the imambargah when the car behind them honked. He said he did not hear the car because he had been wearing his helmet.

Mr Ahmed said that when they had moved a few yards further, a red Suzuki vehicle hit them and forced them to stop by parking in the middle of the road.

Two people in warden uniforms disembarked and physically assaulted them, he said.

He said bystanders intervened to pacify the wardens and stop the attack.

Mr Ahmed also alleged that the wardens threatened them when they visit the wardens’ office to lodge a complaint.

City Traffic Police (CTP) spokesperson Wajid Satti said the matter was brought to the notice of the authorities on Thursday and the case had been handed to Deputy Superintendent of Police Rural circle Junaid Mohsin.

He said a departmental inquiry committee would be formed after a formal complaint is lodged with the CTP Rawalpindi.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2020