KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Saturday granted bail to a serving police officer’s son, who was arrested a day before in DHA following a heated argument with officials for having a police number plate on a private vehicle.

A video of the man, identified as the son of SSP Nasim Ara Panhwar, arguing with policemen had gone viral on social media.

Suspect Khubaib was already released from custody late on Friday night on persona surety after his parents “visited” the Defence police station.

A case was registered against him on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Shazan Shakeel under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing a public servant), 170 (personating a public servant) and 171 (wearing garb or carrying a token used by a public servant with fraudulent intent) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

On Saturday, the suspect appeared before Judicial Magistrate (South) Aasim Aslam, who took up his bail application.

His lawyers argued that the FIR had been filed “even though an understanding had been reached between the police and the suspect”.

While the investigating officer (IO) sought physical custody of the suspect “for further interrogation and collecting evidence”, the judge noted that the PPC sections invoked in the FIR were bailable offences.

Therefore, the court granted bail to the suspect against surety bonds of Rs50,000.

The compliant said he along with a police patrol spotted a “suspicious” black Toyota Revo with police lights and tinted windows near Qayyumabad in DHA’s Phase 7. He added that the driver refrained from disclosing his name and said he should be let go as “my mother is an SP and this car belongs to her”.

According to the FIR, the driver was informed that having police lights and tinted glasses on a private vehicle was a crime, following which he ordered “gunmen accompanying him” to push the complainant.

Meanwhile, DIG-South Asad Raza confirmed to Dawn that SSP Panhwar “visited” the police station to argue that her son was innocent and was being “victimised”.

At the same time, the official said that while attitudes may need to improve, a cop has the authority to stop and check a vehicle bearing fake number plates.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026