KASUR:Sixteen people were booked with six of them nominated for forcibly entering and attempting to grab a seminary and attacking a police team on Monday.

Also, the district police officer (DPO) suspended the sub-inspector (SI) of Khudian police station for allegedly manhandling women during a raid at the seminary, abuse of power and hurling threats.

Earlier, the DPO had also transferred five station house officers (SHOs) in a few months over various reasons, including poor performance and abuse of power.

According to police, Khadija Bibi along with 15 armed suspects went over to a seminary run by her former husband, prayer leader Muhammad Akram, near Khudian lorry adda stop while he was out of town for the wedding of his son.

The suspects broke the locks of the seminary to occupy it, while a police team reached the spot after some locals called 15. When the suspects resisted police, additional force was called in. Upon seeing this, the suspects escaped, but police arrested two of them, including Ali Hamza and Majid Mahmood.

A case was lodged against 16 suspects, including six nominated -- Aasma Bibi, Khadija, Hamza, Shahid, Mahmood and Kaneez Fatima, under sections 448, 511, 506, 427, 148 and 149 of PPC for forcibly entering the seminary, attempting to grab it and attacking the police team. On the other hand, a video of SI Jamil Khan manhandling and abusing Khadija at the seminary went viral prompting DPO Imran Kishwar to suspend him and order an inquiry.

According to police, a lady constable was not available at the time of the raid. Police alleged that the suspects were not ready to vacate the seminary and scuffled with the team. Raids were being conducted to arrest the remaining suspects, including Khadija.

Akram had got the land of the seminary with the help of his former father-in-law. After the dissolution of their marriage, Khadija claimed the building, while the land was in the name of the seminary and not in a person’s. Akram, according to some locals, had managed to build the seminary through charity.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2021