CHITRAL: The district heads of various political parties and representatives of civil society organisations, district bar association and trader union have called for a strict action against assistant director of the consumer protection cell of industries department Irfan Aziz over the alleged abuse of his authority and torturing the manager of a private courier company.

Noted among them were Irshad Hussain of the PTI, Sarwar Kamal advocate of the PPP, Qari Jamal Abdul Nasir of the JUI-F, Eidul Hussain of the ANP, Sajidullah of the district bar, Din Mohammad Nadeem of traders union, village council chairmen Hayatur Rehman, Shahid Ahmed and Wajeehuddin, and Zafar Hayat advocate.

In a meeting in Shahi Bazaar with Jamaat-i-Islami emir in Lower Chitral district Maulana Jamshed Ahmad in the chair, they resented the raid by the assistant director of the consumer protection cell on the courier company’s office.

AD of consumer protection cell denies allegations

They claimed that the company’s manager was physically assaulted by the assistant director, who was accompanied by the Chitral Levies personnel wearing police uniform.

The participants also accused the official of dragging the manager to a van before taking him away.

They demanded strict action against the raiding team.

The participants alleged that the assistant director collected fines from shopkeepers but didn’t give them proper receipts, pocketing the money. They demanded action against him for the “illegal” act.

When contacted, assistant director Irfan Aziz denied allegations and insisted that he conducted the raid according to the protocols on people’s complaints.

He added that the courier company’s manager, instead of ensuring the delivery of packages to the people, asked them to collect them from the office to prevent their return.

The official said dozens of undelivered parcels were recovered from the courier company’s warehouse.

He denied the allegation of torture and insisted it was the manager who physically assaulted him and the Levies personnel protected him from the enraged employees of the courier company.

Mr Aziz also claimed that he issued proper receipts after fining shopkeepers, and didn’t illegally pocket a single penny.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2024