SAHIWAL: The woman senior postmaster (SPM) officer who was slapped by PTI office-bearer Naveed Aslam on duty at the General Post Office (GPO) last Thursday alleges that the accused has launched a smear campaign against her on social media.

Sofia Qasim met District Police Officer Amir Tamoor and the City police officers to register her grievance against the accused who, she alleged, was running a social media campaign to pressurise her to withdraw the case.

Dawn learnt from the sources that Ms Sofia went to the DHQ Teaching Hospital where doctors examined her again for final report. She had visited the hospital on the day of the incident with ear issues after the slapping incident and the doctors had asked her to revisit the hospital on Monday for a re-examination. The final report of the medical test would be issued today (Tuesday).

On the other hand, Naveed Aslam is allegedly constantly posting his interviews and videos on social media, claiming that it was not he who had slapped the lady but it was the post office staff who had manhandled him.

Ms Sofia told this correspondent she had demanded the DPO stop Aslam from running a campaign on social media. She expressed her resolve to fight for her legal rights and that she would not withdraw the first information report (FIR) against the accused.

Sofia questioned that how an accused on bail could give interviews on social media and launch a character assassination drive against her.

After the slapping incident, Sofia Noureen had stopped sending her children to school for fear of any harm to them by the accused.

The DPO assured Ms Sofia that her school-going children would be safe and they should be sent to school. The DPO asked the SHO City to provide security to children of the complainant.

Dawn talked to investigating officer Tajamal Yaqoob who said Mr Aslam would be stopped from running the campaign against the woman officer.

General Post Master Officer, south Punjab Dr Muhammad Akram told Dawn by phone that he had talked to Regional Police Officer Tariq Abbas about the matter.

He said the department was fully backing its officer and demanded the police investigate the causes of violent attitude shown by the accused.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2020