Islamabad police announced on Sunday the suspension of five officers, including the Margalla Station House Officer (SHO), in the wake of a controversial raid at the home of PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. This decision follows a preliminary inquiry into the raid, which occurred on Saturday while Barrister Gohar was in a Supreme Court hearing regarding his party’s electoral symbol. The PTI leader had to leave the court mid-session to attend to the situation at his residence.
Inquiry and Revelations Post-Raid
Upon his return to the court, Barrister Gohar reported that his son and nephew had suffered police brutality. This led the Supreme Court to immediately notice the incident and summon the chief of the capital’s police for an explanation. Initially, the police denied conducting any raid, but contradictory statements emerged after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
Sources within the police, speaking under anonymity, disclosed that senior officers ordered the raid. Arriving in four vehicles, the team reportedly seized a computer and some documents from the PTI leader’s house. The police later claimed the raid was based on a tip about proclaimed offenders at the residence. Still, they retracted upon realizing the house belonged to Barrister Gohar, citing confusion over the address.
Official Statement and Investigation
In a recent statement on social media platform X, Islamabad police acknowledged conducting a fact-finding inquiry into the raid. They claimed the operation aimed to capture a proclaimed offender but was immediately withdrawn upon identifying the house as Barrister Gohar’s. Following the PTI leader’s complaint to the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice ordered an investigation.
Islamabad Police Chief Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan assured Barrister Gohar of a thorough investigation and potential departmental action against any guilty officers. Dr. Nasir appointed a district police officer to lead the inquiry and report back within three days. As a result of the preliminary findings, Margalla’s and four other officers’ SHO has been suspended, with further action pending the outcome of the ongoing inquiry.
