Faheem Patel
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police Inspector-General (IG) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan has said that the state was neither weak nor ineffective that it could not arrest a single person or do nothing if it wanted.
What happened at Zaman Park?
In an exclusive interview with Wenews, the Islamabad police chief said that the thing was that in the Toshakhana case, the court issued an order that Imran Khan should appear in the court. Usually, such matters are sorted out between the Election Commission of Pakistan and the court. The role of the police comes when the court needed some kind of assistance, and assistance was needed in this case.
“It was being demanded since February that he (Imran Khan) should come and appear in court. He was appearing through his lawyers, but at the time of his indictment, he was asked to appear in person, but he did appear. In this regard, warrants were issued last month and earlier this month,” the Islamabad police chief said.
He said that when he (Imran Khan) did not appear even after the repeated summons, non-bailable warrants were issued and the police were asked to bring him. “It was not only in this case, but in any case, when non-bailable warrants are issued, it happens that such a person is arrested and produced in court. And according to the court produce, after production, it is the discretion of the court to grant bail and let him go.”
The Islamabad police chief further said that last month, their superintendent of police and other people went to Lahore and asked him (Imran Khan) to appear before the court. At that time, his senator gave in writing that Imran Khan will appear in court in person. But when he did not appear in court despite the assurance, the court again told the police to go and bring him.
Sharing further details, Dr Akbar Nasir said that “this time around, our team led by the DIG went to Lahore and we had the support of Lahore police. The main reason for this assistance was that when you go to any other area, the local police assists you.”
He said that “assistance means that the person you are going to arrest and if you do not know where he lives, then the local police extends help. And in case of apprehensions about a law-and-order situation, the local police also provide help. Usually, such things did not occur, contrary to what happened in Zaman Park this time.”
Why so much hue and cry for one arrest? Has the state become weak?
Answering the question, the Islamabad police IG said, “I think it is not fair to assume from a single incident that the state of Pakistan has become so weak that it cannot arrest a single person, or if it could not do if it wanted to do something. But the question is, at what cost do you have to execute it? We have paid a price for that, and 65 of our jawans including the Islamabad police DIG and the Lahore police station house officer were injured. In addition, 10 vehicles were torched.”
He further said that “another thing needs to be understood that if unarmed policemen go somewhere with a warrant in their hands, and in response, if they face stone-pelting and their back and legs are broken, then it becomes a matter of concern for all of us. It is all about respect for the law, and the law is respected not just by words but by actions.”
What will happen if Imran Khan does not appear on March 18?
The Islamabad police chief clarified that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had requested that the (arrest) warrants related to (Imran Khan’s) court appearance be canceled. But the request was turned down by the court “because whenever non-bailable warrants are issued to someone, you have to appear in court at all costs. And once you appear, then it is the discretion of the court whether he pursues the proceedings or accepts the application for exemption from (personal) appearance.”
The Islamabad police chief said that now the court has been assured that he (Imran Khan) will appear on March 18. “But if we get any order from the court that we should produce him earlier than the hearing date, we will thrash out a strategy in this regard and how it could be implemented in a better way. But it would be better if all these issues are settled without the use of force.”
What will Islamabad police do if Zaman Park-like situation occurs again?
The Islamabad police IG said that the main thing was that “whatever the court gives orders to the Islamabad police, we will comply with it.”
“Yes, it is necessary that our officers should not be injured, they should not be stoned, petrol bombs should not be thrown at them and their vehicles should not be set on fire. We will go with full preparation but avoid all such things did not happen again. All efforts will be made that such a situation does not arise.”
What would you say about rising crimes in Islamabad?
Islamabad police chief Dr Nasir said that after the improvement in the means of transportation in the capital, not only the population of the city has swelled, but it has also become easy access for criminals, like other citizens.
He said that Islamabad police had done planning till 2008 and now the year 2024 is approaching. “In these 16 years, the population of the city has almost doubled or tripled. We have set up three more police stations and considering establishing more (police stations).
“But unless this security system is linked with the growing population and housing societies, crimes will not be fixed. A whole sector is developed without taking the Islamabad police chief on board and asking how many people (policemen) will be posted there. We have a shortage of cops, but despite this, we have to send police personnel to these new places from other police stations. But this practice is fraught with the risk of disruption of tranquility in areas where this is peace.”
“But despite all these facts, some happenings here (in Islamabad) are indeed regrettable. We cannot say that it is not our responsibility, it is absolutely our responsibility and we will do our best to stop this from happening. We need resources for this, but we also need the support of the people and I am confident that together we will overcome the prevailing situation.”
He said that the most important thing was that the police also needed to work hard. “The police will have to improve their work and behaviour and without that, we will not be able to meet the expectations of the people nor control crime.”
