RAWALPINDI: May 8: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate for NA-56, Mohammad Hanif Abbasi, was booked along with 700 supporters for damaging police bus and obstructing the cops from discharging their official duty, police said.

Police said a convoy of political activists led by PML-N candidate Hanif Abbasi was stopped from taking Benazir Bhutto Road for Liaquat Bagh where his party chief Nawaz Sharif was to address a rally.

The rally was coming from Rehmanabad and was stopped at Chandni Chowk as the road had been blocked for vehicular traffic.

They were asked to cover rest of the journey on foot.

The former lawmaker retaliated and started a quarrel with the police deployed at the barrier.

Akbar Abbas, police inspector, who was commanding the police unit at the security check point, tried to convince the PML-N leader but he allegedly refused to obey the police officer and insisted on removing the barrier.

“After the police refused to remove the barrier, the PML-N activists got infuriated and attacked the police bus,” inspector Akbar Abbas said in his complaint adding that the bus driver Jamil Akhtar ran away.

The angry mob damaged the bus windscreen and indicators (lights) and also obstructed the police from discharging their official duty. Finally the police had to retreat.

However, the city police officer, Abdul Razaq Cheema, took notice of the incident and ordered the registration of a criminal case against the former lawmaker.

Apparently, the police are reluctant to take action against the accused, fearing revenge if he returns to the assembly.

Inspector Akbar Abbas, who was complainant in the FIR, refused to give any further details of the incident.

Another police officer responded in the same manner when asked whether the police would arrest the accused nominated in the FIR, he said: “Apparently, the police will not proceed in the case before May 11, but a report attached with the copy of the FIR has been sent to the election commission as it was a violation of code of conduct.”

When the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz contesting candidate Mohammad Hanif Abbasi was contacted on his cellphone, his personal secretary, who gave his name as Amir, said that Mr Abbasi was not available as he was addressing a public meeting at the moment.