Ten police personnel were suspended on Monday for their “high-handedness and maltreatment” of women protesters at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) a day earlier, officials said.On Sunday, police clashed with protesters outside KPC for violating Section 144, which empowers district administrations to prohibit an assembly of four or more people in an area for a limited period.
The protesters had organised the “Sindh Rawadari March” to condemn the “extrajudicial” killing of DrShahnawazKunbhar, who was accused of sharing blasphemous posts on social media and was shot dead under mysterious circumstances during a gun battle with the police in Mirpurkhas on September 19. Following an inquiry into the killing, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar had acknowledged that the police had “staged the encounter”.TV and social media footage of the protest showed police performing baton charges on the demonstrators outside the KPC, including women.Three different police orders issued on Monday said the suspended personnel would continue to draw pay and allowances.
A statement from South Zone Police spokesperson confirmed that the deputy inspector of police has initiated disciplinary action against all personnel involved in the incident, including lady constables. “A total of 10 officers have been immediately removed from their duties and sent to headquarters suspend company,” the statement read, adding that instructions for their parade and training were issued to the station police headquarters on a daily basis.It said the city senior superintendent of police was directed to take departmental action against the suspended officers and ensure their punishment.
The suspended officials were identified with the help of CCTV footage, and further identification is in progress, the statement said.“Any kind of ill-treatment or violence against women and children, including the journalist community, will not be allowed.“Inquiry and action is ongoing upon the instructions of the Sindh inspector general of police,” the statement said. “Sindh Police believes in the process of self-accountability. The training of police officials will be improved.”
