TAXILA: Rawalpindi police swung into action after a video went viral on social media in which a police officer was shown trashing and abusing an elderly woman in a court complex in Taxila on Saturday.

The cop was suspended, and an inquiry was initiated against him. The police officer, identified as ASI Imtiaz Nasir, first dragged the shawl of the woman and then slapped her many times in the presence of a number of people gathered there.

The public present there raised slogans against the police officer, after which he vanished from the scene in a white private car, taking a handcuffed man along with him to appear before the court.

As the video went viral, the official spokesman of the district police clarified that the said police officer, along with his other colleagues, brought a suspect, Baseer Khan, allegedly involved in pickpocketing cases and a history-sheeter.

The spokesman stated that the woman had interfered in the legal process, which resulted in the unpleasant incident.

He added that the ASI was suspended, and the SP Potohar region has been asked to conduct an inquiry against the officer for further departmental action.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2024