LAHORE, Dec 10: Lower staff of the Punjab Civil Secretariat on Saturday 'thrashed' a deputy secretary of the higher education department after he, along with two visiting lawyers, allegedly manhandled his naib qasid (messenger).

Deputy Secretary Tariq Saeed, who reportedly belongs to the income tax group and is serving in Punjab on deputation, later sought pardon from messenger Allah Ditta after things went out of his hands.

It was reported that Allah Ditta, an elderly messenger, was reprimanded by the deputy secretary for going away without any intimation. The peon told others that the deputy secretary misbehaved with him and later started beating him up when he protested. He claimed that two lawyers sitting in the office of the officer also beat him up.

Once outside the office of the deputy secretary, Allah Ditta raised hue and cry which attracted over 100 messengers, drivers and clerks. They reportedly settled score by thrashing the deputy secretary and his visitors.

The leaders of the workers union also reached the spot, leaving no choice for the officer but to seek pardon.

Security staff and senior officials said the secretary of the department was supposed to handle the issue. The secretary was not available for comment.