Departmental action has been initiated to investigate the role of the police team and the officer-in-charge on the alleged negligence during...
Departmental action has been initiated to investigate the role of the police team and the officer-in-charge on the alleged negligence during the arrest of PTI leader Shehbaz Gul.
Islamabad police officials said that the action was taken after the concerned constituencies reprimanded the police chief and other officers for failing to take Shahbaz Gul's mobile phone, his car and driver into custody during the arrest. Initiated while Shehbaz Gul's driver and his mobile phone are out of reach of the investigators due to which the 'solid evidence' of the case against him could not be accessed.
The police arrested Imran Khan chief of staff on August 9 after tracing his location as part of a plan, the task was given to the Operation Division police team under the supervision of the SSP, officials said.
Also Read: Court orders Shehbaz Gul to be sent to Pims Hospital and re-medicalized
Police teams stopped Shehbaz Gill at Bani Galachuk but failed to immediately take him into custody as he locked himself in his car and posted videos on social media, officials added. The police were embarrassed.
Later, the SP (Operations) reached there and arrested him but the police teams remained confused about taking custody of his vehicle while Shahbaz Gul was given clear instructions to bring his belongings and accomplices to the designated place, the police said. The officials, despite the SOP, left all their belongings there and brought Shahbaz Gul in a private vehicle.
Officials further said that due to this 'negligence and carelessness' the PTI leader was able to hand over his mobile phone to his driver.
Peshawar out of reach?
Officials said the driver reached Imran Khan's residence before leaving for his in-laws, and his presence in Peshawar was discovered when the police raided to arrest him.
Read more: Alleged torture on Shahbaz Gul, Islamabad High Court seeks report from IG
Officials said Peshawar is currently beyond the reach of the Islamabad police, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police are unlikely to cooperate, and an attempt to arrest the driver in KP may result in a collision or an accident.
Officials said that the last location of Shahbaz Gill's mobile phone was traced to Banigala area while his phone was in use by 'someone' till August 12, after which it seems to have been switched off. Due to its location is not known.
He said that the investigators have also identified some other devices which were used by Shahbaz Gill and efforts are on to trace these devices.
Officials said that Shahbaz Gul did not use his mobile phone in the beeper apparently in view of the fear of finding the location.
Also Read: Tension between Islamabad and Rawalpindi Police over the custody of Shahbaz Gul
Officers said that before Shehbaz Gill spoke on the news channel, some calls and messages were made from the house and received from different numbers. The 'script' was also recovered.
On the allegation of torture during the investigation, the authorities said that the police did not even touch Shahbaz Gul for questioning.
Voice recognition
He said that the video of the bulletin sent to FIA and the voice samples of Shehbaz Gul have been matched for voice identification and recognition.
Officials said the police released a relative of Shehbaz Gul's driver in a case registered on August 11 at Abpara police station while a challan against the driver's wife was presented for trial.
Read more: PTI leader Shehbaz Gill shifted from Adiala Jail to Pims Hospital Islamabad
He said that Shahbaz Gul is in judicial custody till Monday, he is admitted to the hospital on the direction of the court, he will be presented in the court again on Monday for legal proceedings.
The statements were recorded
On the other hand, a committee under the supervision of DIG (Headquarters) recorded the statements of Shahbaz Gul in the hospital.
PTI leaders Ali Awan, Khurram Nawaz, Imran Khan's nephew Hasan Niazi and Fawad Chaudhry also came to record the statement. Officials said that these leaders presented video clips of talk shows of some news channels as evidence, some media persons were also asked to appear before the committee but they did not appear.
Police statement
Top police officials were contacted by Dawn to get their reaction on several cases.
Also Read: Decision to send Shahbaz Gill to physical remand challenged in Islamabad High Court
Action initiated against SSP Counter Terrorism Department of Police and other officials for alleged negligence in these cases, possibility of arrest of other politicians and media persons who were in touch with Shahbaz Gul at the time of making the statement and Questions related to his remand were included.
Islamabad Police Public Relations Officer told Dawn that all these cases are related to the ongoing investigation and all these cases will be reviewed during the investigation.
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