ISLAMABAD – A high profile harassment case, which took place at the Islamabad Club earlier this month, has sparked a tug of war between top bureaucrats with one of the side making efforts to close the matter.
As the First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at the Secretariat Police Station in Islamabad and suspect has obtained pre-arrest bail, some startling revelations have surfaced.
The Case
The incident took place on August 3 when a man allegedly sexually harassed the daughter of a high-profile figure at the Islamabad Club.
The suspect, identified as Wasif Kareem, was visiting the Club as a guest of the Raja Masood when he allegedly harassed the 18-year-old girl at the family.
The First Information Report, which was registered on a complaint by the family, statesd that the incident caused severe mental trauma to victim.
After registering the case, police launched an investigation into the matter.
What’s the Revelations?
Reports said the suspect, who is nephew of Secretary of President Shakeel Malik, had obtained pre-arrest bail in the case. Usually in such matters, the bail is granted for 10 days or two weeks but in this case, the suspect had been given one month time.
Reports claimed that Secretary to President Shakeel Malik was trying to influence the case in order save his relative. He also made a call to the victim’s family and asked them to settle the matter through negotiations. However, the head of the victim’s family, who is also a top officer, rejected the offer.
Malik later approached the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to make intervention but he denied, saying it is a controversial matter. The secretary to president also got the same answer when he contacted secretary interior.
Later, Rashid Langrial, who has recently been appointed as chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), called to the secretary to president and held heated argument with him for putting pressure on the victim family.
He also warned him of filing a case against him if he does not stop using his powers for influencing the case.
The victim’s father also submitted an application to the Islamabad Club’s administration, seeking an action against the persons involved in it.
Taking action, Secretary Establishment, who also handles the matters of the club, has canceled the membership Raja Masood for a year.
President Asif Ali Zardari has also been informed about the matter as his office being used for influencing the case.
