Sheikh Rashid, the leader of the Awami Muslim League (AML), has accused the Islamabad police of assaulting his staff during raids at his residences in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
According to Rashid, the police broke into his house in Islamabad and beat his staff, who had already been injured during a previous incident. They allegedly forced the staff to give statements denying any mistreatment.
Another incident occurred at Rashid’s Lal Haveli residence in Rawalpindi, where individuals in plain clothes reportedly tortured his employees, Rashid alleged in a video message posted on his twitter handle.
He said local residents managed to rescue the staff from the assailants.
Rashid linked these incidents to a court order regarding a raid at his Islamabad house on May 31.
During that raid, he claimed that a large group of individuals, including Rangers and Islamabad police in plain clothes, forcefully entered his home, causing injuries to his workers and confiscating his licensed weapons, CCTV footage, and cars.
Rashid has accused Islamabad police officials of breaking his staff’s arms and stated that he intends to pursue legal action.
He wrote a letter to the Islamabad Inspector General, naming several police officers involved in the alleged raid and the subsequent damage caused.
Rashid also mentioned that two of his bulletproof cars, a licensed gun, and other valuable items were forcefully taken.
On June 2, a judge fixed a hearing for Rashid’s petition against the raid and requested a response from the police officials by June 9.
These allegations by Rashid, an ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), came forth amidst the government’s crackdown on the PTI and its supporters following incidents of vandalism on May 9.
