SAHIWAL: The Pakpattan city police registered a case against PML-N MPA Mian Naveed Ali, his father Mian Ahmed Ali and six others on the allegation of abusing and kidnapping an assistant commissioner who raided a marquee and imposed Rs50,000 fine on it for violation of law on Saturday night.

Police registered the case 743/20 under sections 365, 382, 506, 353 and 186 of PPC on the complaint of Assistant Commissioner Khawar Bashir.

The incident drew sharp criticism especially by the All Pakistan Provincial Civil Services Association and the PMS Officers Association who demanded immediate arrest of MPA Mian Naveed Ali. Police did not arrest the legislator till last reports came in on Sunday.

Assistant Commissioner Khawar Bashir, along with his gunman, raided Umer Marquee on a complaint about violation. He served Rs50,000 fine notice on its owner Haji Ghulam Mustafa and collected the amount. This led to an exchange of bitter words between the AC and the marquee employees.

MPA Mian Naveed and other guests jumped the fray and Haji Mustafa, his friend Abdul Hameed and Imtiaz abused and manhandled the AC. Mian Naveed also allegedly misbehaved with the AC and two gunmen of the marquee bundled him into a private car and he was driven away.

The FIR says the MPA abused and threatened the bureaucrat with dire consequences.

The security staff of the AC called up police and meanwhile, the MPA drove the AC to the city police station and sped away after dropping him.

Pakpattan Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Kamal Mann took notice of the incident and later a case was registered late on Saturday night. He told Dawn that police would take appropriate action in the case. Later, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also took notice and sought a report from the Sahiwal regional police officer.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2020