RAWALPINDI: A three-member fact-finding committee has been formed after the chief minister Punjab expressed displeasure at a protest held against the government in Murree on Independence Day.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Hafiz Kamran Asghar, who is heading the committee, has called the first meeting on Tuesday (today) to ascertain whether it was a lapse on part of the local administration or the district police.

Headed by SSP Asghar and comprising Chief Traffic Officer Beenish Fatima and the DSP security, the committee will submit its report to the city police officer (CPO) Rawalpindi.

A departmental inquiry has been initiated and a show-cause notice issued to SHO Murree Ijaz Abbas Shah, who has been suspended by the CPO.

An FIR was registered against more than 50 people who took part in the protest. The protesters carrying PTI flags gathered at CPO Chowk in Murree at night on the Independence Day, shouting anti-government slogans. The police registered an FIR against them on the charges of damaging public property, attacking and preventing police from discharging their duty and pelting stones on police that left two police officials and the complainant injured.

Mohammad Sohail, a resident of Murree and an employee of the Civil Defence Department, lodged the FIR saying he was on duty at GPO Chowk when the protesters, including 11 identified, carrying PTI flags and batons appeared on the scene at about midnight.

He said the protesters were shouting hate slogans against the government and started pelting stones on a hotel. He said efforts were made to stop the violent mob but they also attacked the police, pelted them with stones and used batons.

The FIR said Zainul Abideen, who was inciting the protesters, attacked the complainant with a baton that left him injured. Another protester, Adeeb Abbasi, attacked police official Ikhtisham with a baton. Moreover, another policeman Ahsan Matloob was also injured by the protesters.

The complainant said his uniform was also torn by the protesters. Damage was also caused to the hotel building. Reinforcement of police forced the protesters to escape. However, no arrests have been made by the police so far.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2024