ISLAMABAD, Sept 30:  Two policemen — one performing duty with Assistant Commissioner City — were released after being questioned by Secretariat police in connection with the detention of Punjab police personnel as suspects during Friday’s violence. They were freed after intervention of police chief’s staff, it has been learnt.

Friday September 21, which was designated by the government to condemn the anti-Islam film produced in the US – ended in violence.

The two police officials, one (Naseer, head constable) a wireless operator performing duty with city Magistrate, the other (Assistant Sub-Inspector, Arif) who had been deployed at Faizabad on Friday, were detained by the police after it emerged that four or five Punjab police personnel had been detained as suspects, during Friday’s violence and later freed.

The ICT police were more concerned after the Interior Minister Rehman Malik demanded that investigation should begin to arrest Punjab police personnel but they were nowhere to be found, as they were freed after intervention of police chief’s staff.

A senior police officer who requested not to be named confirmed that the two police officials taken into custody by the police for questioning in-connection with the freeing of Punjab police personnel have been freed without charge as the allegations levelled against them could not be proven.

When asked whether any case was registered against the two policemen, he replied that no case was registered against them as it was a “misunderstanding”.

According to sources, the Punjab policemen were caught by Islamabad police, while rioting. Subsequently, they were shifted to Aabpara police station along with their motorbikes.  And the detention of the police personnel was recorded with the police.

Messages were also exchanged between the police chief’s staff and the magistrate on September 21, which had been on the police record as details and other particulars of the detained cops were also sought by the IGP’s staff.

Interior minister had been demanding the ICP police to produce the Punjab police personnel – captured during rioting so that the investigation should start.

But the police had been unable to produce them as they had already been freed. As the freeing of Punjab police personnel came to light, the two personnel of Islamabad police were detained for questioning. During questioning, both denied involvement in any such practice.

However, a source close to the investigation revealed that the ASI, who belonged to Bara Kahu area, was freed after intervention of the brother of a senior political figure, while the other suspect was released later.

On part of the Rawalpindi police, two separate police teams have been investigating into the incident and hunting for the accused involved in the rioting.

Superintendent of Police Rawal Division, Chaudhry Hanif when contacted said some of the accused involved in the rioting had been identified by the police with the help of surveillance and CCTV cameras; however, they were yet to be arrested.

As many as six police vehicles, including a prisoner van were either burnt or damaged by the angry mob, a US made berretta pistol of SSP Rawal Division and a semi- machine gun from his gunman were also snatched away by the angry mob.

According to sources, the inspector technical of motor transport department of police has submitted a report on the losses of vehicles, caused during Friday’s rioting. The report containing the details of damages and cost on their repair was submitted to the City Police Officer.