Scuffle between Pakistan Army officers and Highway Police officials: A Lesson to Learn
By Agha Iqrar Haroon
The inquiry report about the incident of a scuffle between Pakistan Army officers and Highway Police Pakistan officials near Khairabad Bridge on G.T Road will come on surface soon but social media and public will keep cursing those Army officials who were seen in photos beating policemen of Highway Police.
A facebook page of Highway Police Pakistan played a pivotal role to promote one-sided story of this scuffle while Pakistan Army kept silent over the incident for two crucial days.
There is no doubt that Pakistan Army cannot use its official social media tools to share their side (what Army officials claim and believe) of the story but at least could release a statement about the incident at the time when photos were surfaced in social media. Moreover, televisions anchors who are usually found lauding role of Pakistan Army on television screens were either careful or silent to comment on this incident.
One should not forget that social media is instant, ruthless, sometimes faceless, sometimes directionless and sometimes leaderless with merciless snowball effect.
“Android technology has made social media more lethal and terrible. You can ruin life of a person by making a photo or by recording a private conversation via android phone and put it on social media without giving background of the photo or conversation. Victim will take her or his whole life to clarify his or her situation”, said a social media manager when he was asked to comment over this particular incident.
He was of the view that he could not expect such silliness from a regular soldier to beat a police official under sunlight at a highway and then expect that this incident would not be reported in social media or electronic media.
According to sources, different intelligence agencies are busy investigating separately about what happened at the spot of the incident because inquiry will focus crucial points including what instigated Captain Qasim, Captain Denial to call for support and from where one Major namely Zafran allegedly reached the spot in his official vehicle.
According to sources, inquiry of Pakistan Army will focus following points in first phase:
- What really happened between two parties– Captain Qasim, Captain Denial and police officers Atif Khattak and Sub Inspector Nasir Khan?
- Why vehicles of Captain Qasim and Captain Denial were intercepted and stopped by Highway Police?
- Did Captain Qasim take out his 9mm pistol and pointed towards police officials?
- How did Major Zafran allegedly reach the spot in his official vehicle bearing number plate broad arrow 07- GJ 2855?
- How did police officials reach Attock Fort in Peshawar?
- Was there any entry of police officials in Attock Fort entry register? If yes, to whom they came to meet or who brought them forcibly there?
“Above mentioned questions are basic to initiate inquiry and outcome of these questions would determine line and length of detail inquiry”, indicated a source when asked to comment.
Sources claim that issue was amicably resolved in a meeting of high officials Highway Police and some officials of Pakistan Army but police officers submitted an application against Army officials in Akora Police Station and a case was instantly registered against Army officers.
It may be mentioned that on the written complaint of SI/PO Atif Khattak an FlR No. 1114 dated September 10, 2016 was registered under sections 279.186.353.506.365. 342. 148 and 149 at Pakistan Penal Code in the Police Station Akora Khattak District Nowshere. I believe that this is the first FIR against Pakistan police of such nature that covers sections like 149 and 148.
Section 149 PPC creates a joint liability of all members of an unlawful assembly for criminal act done by any member in prosecution of the common object.
Interestingly, Zonal Commander N-5 (North) of Highway Police Ahmad Mukhtar Khan sent an official report to Inspector General of National Highway and Motorways Police about the whole incident and this report represents police version.
The report that was sent to IG Highways Police is hereunder:
Sector Commander North-l, has reported that on 10/09/2016 at about 1400 hours the officers of E-l SI/PO Atif Khattak and Sl/PO Nasir Khan were on their routine patrolling duty near Nodia when they were informed through a wireless message by APO Jalal Shah that one Corolla car bearing registration No LED-776 and another Honda car bearing registration number UA-916 were being recklessly driven on the south bound carriage way approaching Jahangrra on G.T Road.
The officer of Eagle-l SI/PO Atif Khattak signaled the above mentioned cars at Nodia south bound but the drivers despite of clear signal accelerated the speed instead of stopping.
The officers followed the cars and stopped them near ltfaq Kanta.
In the meanwhile, APO Jalal Shah also reached at the spot on official vehicle IDP-1770. When the officers approached to convey the drivers about their violation of law and to issue the ticket, the two drivers became rash
and flared u. One of them who was latterly known as Captain Qasim was armed with 9mm pistol. They alighted from their cars in aggressive and hostile manner and pointed pistol at the police officers. The other was identified as Captain Denial. One of them made a mobile telephone call and after a short while 25 to 26 army personnel in uniform armed with rifles and batons reached on official army vehicles under the supervision at a Major, later on identified as Major Zafran. One of the vehicles number was broad arrow 07- GJ 2855. On arrival at the scene the army personnel assaulted the officers with butt and batons. The officers of the Eagle-II namely SI/PO Mohsin Toori and PO Qaiser Khan were called who along with fine collection unit staff namely Shah Zeb and Sher Ali reached at the spot.
During the assault at the police officials APO Jalal Shah and fine collection unit officials received injuries on vital parts and APO Jalal Shah’s uniform was also torn. Later on, the army personnel forcibly took the policemen namely SI/PO Atif Khattak SI/PO Mohsin Toori, APO Jalai Shah and Shah Zeb fine collection unit I their official vehicles to the Attoct Fort along with Nita-MH&PM official vehicle IDP-1770 and 3 SMGs.
ln the Attack Fort the NH&MP officers were detained for considerable time in wrongful confinement before being released by the intervention of the senior officers. Atif Khattak, APO Jalal Shah and Shah Zeb were referred to DHQ Hospital Nowshara for medical legal report and treatment”.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Army took two days to respond this event through its Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) twitter and facebook on September 12, 2016 while this incident was already viral at social media and was reported on electronic media.
Referring to sad incident of scuffle between officials of Motorway Police and two young Army officers, a… https://t.co/4RAkaivKbb
— ISPR (@ISPR_Official) September 12, 2016
A senior defence journalist who was contacted for comments, said:
“The time had gone when journalists used to wait official version from ISPR before publishing a single line involving Pakistan Army and its officials. Social media has written its own norms of reporting where you do not need comments from both the parties and where you cannot wait for official response because someone from somewhere will break the news with photos”.
He indicated that the response from ISPR was “too much delayed” and people took it as an attempt to “damage control” instead of “sharing information with public”.
My some friends who are directly or indirectly linked with Pakistan Army believe that this incident was over-projected by certain elements to defame men in uniform. They can be right and they can be wrong but they are unable to comment why did official response of Pakistan Army was delayed for two crucial days—giving a chance to anti-Pakistan army elements to play with this incident.
Only investigation will unearth what happened actually. However, one lesson should be learnt by Pakistan Army officials that they should be more careful while dealing with people in streets because they (Pakistan Army) have more enemies on social media than they expect before.
