12-year-old recalls events that led to clash with Azam Swati's employees
Ziauddin was briefly detained along with his family members following a complaint by minister Swati's son
October 29, 2018
ISLAMABAD: A 12-year-old boy, who was earlier arrested along with his family on a complaint by Federal Minister Azam Swati's son, recalled the events that are believed to have led to the transfer of Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jan Muhammad.
In a video which went viral following his release, Ziauddin, a resident of Bajaur Agency, narrated that he left his cow free as he was going for Friday prayers. “Upon return, I found out that my cow had entered Swati’s farmhouse,” he said.
The 12-year-old said that when he went to Swati’s farmhouse to get his cow back, people inside refused to return it so he set it free himself.
“When I returned home with my cow, men wielding sticks broke in and beat us up,” he recalled. Ziauddin said that his elder brother, mother, and sister were present at the house at that time.
“They then reported us to the police and even took me to Chak Shehzad Police Station,” he added.
Ziauddin’s elder brother, who was also in the video, then said that five to six of their family members are still in jail.
“He is only eight years old – how is it legal to put him behind bars?” he asked.
Further, Ziauddin’s brother said, “The men fired outside the house and damaged property.” He said that they were minister Azam Swati’s men.
Sending a message to the government, the brother said, “Prime Minister Imran Khan says tabdeeli (change) is here and they are eliminating poverty, but instead the poor are being eliminated.”
Earlier today, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday took notice of the Islamabad IGP's transfer and summoned officials to explain how and why the police official was transferred.
On October 27, the Islamabad IGP was transferred and ordered to report immediately to the Establishment Division until further orders.
Pakistan Peoples' Party Senator Mustafa Khokhar claimed that the police offical was removed because he had refused to obey “illegal orders” of Federal Minister Azam Swati's son.
According to sources, the IGP was transferred after he refused action on a complaint by Swati's son.
Swati's son filed an FIR at the Shehzad Town Police Station against several for allegedly letting their animals into the former's fields. On being stopped, the suspects attacked the employees with axes and also snatched weapons from the security guards and held them hostage, the FIR stated.
The government came under fire in August over a similar issue, when a police officer was transferred after he stopped Khawar Maneka, the former husband of Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife, for over-speeding. The issue was eventually resolved after the Supreme Court took notice of the issue and Maneka apologised to the court.
