BAHAWALNAGAR: A widow, along with her family members, staged protest against the Takht Mahal police on Tuesday for allegedly protecting the murderers of her husband who were threatening to kill her children if she continues to fight the case.

Sanjela Zakir, along with her brother-in-law and other family members, staged a protest and told media that Rai Bashir who was the uncle of deceased Ayub killed him for over not selling a plot of land.

She said that on May 9, Bashir and armed men killed Ayub after torturing him. She said a case was registered on her complaint at the Takht Mahal police station. She alleged that police colluded with the murderers and did not arrest them and they started intimidating her to drop the case and she also received threats that her children would be murdered. She said she informed police about the threats but no action was taken.

Sanjela said that four days ago armed men attacked her home and when police arrived they fled. She alleged that instead of the incident, police filed a case under minor sections and the perpetrators were freed on bail. She said that she was now receiving death threats.

Sanjela and deceased Ayub’s brother alleged that Takht Mahal SHO Akbar Gujjar and Investigating Officer Akram had taken bribe from the accused and were protecting them.

They demanded that the Punjab IG take notice of the matter and also ensure security of their family.

Saddar DSP Mansoor Alam told Dawn that the suspects in the case were on bail and the investigation was in initial stages. He said he would personally look into this case and investigate on merit.

DPO’s PRO Syed Wahaj Shah said that for flawed investigation and abuse of authority, SHO Akbar Gujjar had been suspended from service.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2020