PESHAWAR: The police and a mob clashed over an incident of custodial torture outside the provincial assembly’s building here on Thursday with the provincial government announcing the holding of a judicial probe to the police’s brutality.

Hundreds of protesters, mostly from Tehkal area, where torture victim Radiullah alias Amirae lived, took to the streets.

A large number of protesters gathered in front of the Peshawar Press Club building and blocked the Sher Shah Suri Road to traffic, burned old tyres and shouted slogans against police over their brutality.

Later, some of them walked to the Surey Pul Chowk in front of the provincial assembly’s building, where they were joined by a large group of protesters from Tehkal area.

There followed clashes between the police and protesters. The police used teargas shells and baton charge to disperse the mob, while the protesters retaliated by throwing stones on them.

Police, mob clash outside assembly building

The protest led to the closure of the Khyber Road and nearby arteries forcing motorists to wait for long hours in scorching heat.

Protests against the stripping and torture of the accused in police custody were also reported in Swat, Charsadda, Bajaur, Mohmand and Swabi districts, where mobs demanded strict action against the culpable police officials.

Also on Thursday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government announced the holding of a probe into the incident through a Peshawar High Court judge.

Addressing a news conference, adviser to the chief minister on information Ajmal Wazir said a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan discussed the matter.

The meeting, which was attended by the law minister, chief secretary, inspector general of police and other senior officials, decided that under the KP Tribunal of Inquiry Ordinance, a probe led by a high court judge would be conducted into the torture incident.

The adviser said a judge would be notified for the probe in consultation with the high court’s chief justice.

“The probe will be completed within a fortnight, while its report will be made public within a month. The government will not spare anyone responsible for the incident,” he said.

Mr Ajmal said four police officials, including the station house officer of Tehkal area, had been suspended before three of them were arrested, while an FIR had been registered against SHO as well.

Earlier, the police department had formed a three-member committee headed by the additional inspector general of police (headquarters) to probe the custodial torture and the alleged role of the Peshawar SSP (operations) in it.

The committee was tasked with presenting its report within a day.

Peshawar SSP (operations) Zahoor Babar was replaced around midnight through a notification, which ordered him to report to the central police office with an immediate effect.

On Thursday, provincial police chief Dr Sanaullah Abbasi notified the transfer of Kohat district police officer Mansoor Aman and posted him as the Peshawar SSP (operations).

Meanwhile, Afghan counsel general in Peshawar Najeebullah Ahmadzai met Dr Abbasi.

A statement issued here said the police chief briefed the visitor about the action taken against the people involved in the custodial torture.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2020