ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: Daman-i-Koh and Pir Sohawa are popular scenic spots as they offer a panoramic view of ‘Islamabad the Beautiful’ but police harassment turns the joy trip into mental torture for many visitors.
Instead of creating a sense of security, the police patrols on the road to Pir Sohawa do the very opposite by their abrasive questioning of visitors, particularly of couples who park alongside the road or near the small huts built by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to enjoy the breathtaking scenery.
One such case of intimidation happened two nights ago when a black police patrol vehicle (IDT 726) pulled up behind Mr Shahid and his wife sitting in their car and enjoying cold coffee.
A man in plain clothes approached and ordered Mr Shahid to step out but he refused asking why. “Because we are the police”, the man replied and opened the car’s door, repeating his order. Mr Shahid refused to budge unless a good enough reason was given for him to come out.
“We are the police that’s why,” the man replied and, closing the door, demanded Mr Shahid’s identification paper.
By that time a uniformed policeman had sauntered to Mr Shahid’s side and after checking his papers realized that “the prey” could be influential.
“Then they backed off”, Mr Shahid told this reporter. For his wife “the whole episode was very distressing and frightening.”
Another couple, Mr and Mrs Khalid, suffered similar humiliation at the hands of police.
“I cannot go into details but the way they go about asking silly questions and ‘nikah namas’ is wrong. The police are inept and venal,” Mrs Khalid said.
Intimidation by the police does not correspond to the claims about Islamabad’s “model police” and the talk of ‘enlightened moderation’.
Restaurant owners at the two picnic points on the Margallas also complained and said the police were bad for their business.
“People like it up here because it makes them happy, they can relax and have a good time. But police spoils all the fun,” a restaurant owner said.
SHO Safir in the Kohsar police station however said the patrol cars were there for protection of people. When told about the incidents he said: “The men in civilian clothes are not policemen but only drivers.’’