NAROWAL, April 20: The district nazim has taken exception to the registration of a ‘fake’ criminal case against executive district officer of health and his alleged torture and humiliation by police.

He contended that the police turned violent on the direction of the district police officer, who wanted to settle some personal grudge he had been nurturing against the EDO. The DPO, however, denied the allegation.

The Shakargarh police claimed to have arrested EDO (Health) Dr Shaukat Saleem on April 11 last who, according to them, was under the influence and busy in gambling, along with Punjab Health Minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed’s cousin Chaudhry Maqsood Ahmad, policeman Ilyas, Afzal and three proclaimed offenders — Hassan Raza, Zaman Khan and Muhammad Shafique.

The EDO’s arrest had created panic among the political circles who said the incident was the outcome of a rift between Shakargarh tehsil nazim Chaudhry Tariq Anis and District Nazim Dr Niamat Javed Butt. Both the groups, however, denied the charges.

Dr Shaukat Saleem after being released on bail, said he was sitting in the office of the Shakargarh market committee along with Chaudhry Masood Ahmad when police arrested them and took them to the police station.

He alleged that the police maltreated him and the SHO, besides torturing him, tried to urinate on his face. The police had added the names of three proclaimed offenders in the FIR who were already in police custody for the last many days, he claimed.

Nazim Dr Niamat said if the DPO had some differences with the EDO, he should report it to him or the DCO but he instead abused his authority to humiliate the EDO.

When contacted, DPO Bilal Siddiqui said the police had raided the office of the market committee to arrest some proclaimed offenders on a tip-off and found the EDO under the influence and busy in gambling. He alleged that the EDO used to drink even in his office.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Medical Association has condemned the incident and demanded that the chief minister should take stern action against the officials responsible for the incident.