Scores of people from Malikpur staged a protest demonstration against the police for arresting a man “unlawfully”.
The protesters, mostly relatives and neighbours of the detained man, sat on Sargodha Road. They also placed blockades on the road and refused to let traffic pass.
Barkat Masih, a protester, said that Mubarak Masih had parked his motorcycle in front of the Punjab Institute of Nuclear Medicines and had gone inside the hospital for some work.
He said on his way out, Mubarak Masih had an argument with Assistant Sub Inspector Sardar, who was on a security guard outside the hospital. He said the ASI “misbehaved” with Mubarak Masih and abused him for parking his motorcycle in front of the hospital. He said the ASI told Mubarak Masih that he should have sought his permission before parking his motorcycle.
Barkat Masih said there were many other vehicles parked on the road. Barkat Masih said the ASI called a team of the Civil Lines police and handed Mubarak Masih over to them. He said the police detained Mubarak Masih without any investigation.
The protesters demanded that Mubarak Masih be released and an action be taken against the ASI.
The protest continued for over three hours before the Civil Lines DSP arrived at the scene and assured the people that he would take notice of the matter.
The DSP also ordered the police to release Mubarak Masih.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2013.