PESHAWAR: Regional police have rebutted a report claiming registration of a case against a federal minister, his brother and government and police officials in the violent protest following the February 9 elections.

“It is to clarify that no new FIR has been registered by Shangla Police and the quoted report is devoid of facts. The petitioner is being called time and again but he is yet to appear before the investigation officers,” the press office of the regional police said in a statement.

The report had claimed that the SHO, Alpuri on the orders of the additional and district session judge, following a writ petition, registered a case against federal minister Amir Muqam, his brother, MPA Dr Ibadullah, the deputy commissioner, the then DPO and few other government and police officials.

However, following the perusal of the court order, the judge, while allowing the petition, directed the area SHO to record statements of the petitioner, injured persons and legal heirs of the deceased and investigate the cross version of the petitioner in accordance with the law.

Consequently, the SHO recorded what is commonly known as “Roznamcha”, detailing the ‘cross version’ of the petitioner.

The police statement recalled that on Feb 9, 2024, upon a viral message of local leader inciting his supporters to attack DRO Office, protesters gathered in Alpuri Chowk, snatched ballot papers being transported to DRO office, burnt official vehicle on election duty and tried to attack the government offices in the red zone.

“In the turmoil two individuals died and FIR No 48/24 u/s 302/324/353/427/7ATA dated 09/02/2024 was registered in PS Alpuri against the inciter, agitators and armed gunmen present in the mob and the case has been challaned in the ATC court by Shangla Police and the trial of the same is about to start.”

It said that one of the accused who had given call on social media to burn down the DRO office and was now on bail approached a local court with petition that the FIR was not based on facts and that he wanted to give a second version in addition to his earlier statement given to the police.

As a result, the court ordered to enter the petitioner version in daily diary of the police station concerned. Police complied with the directions of the court and entered the version in daily diary on 30/04/2024.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2024