Punjab Police Officers Arrested For Illegal Detention, Extortion

The Bahawalnagar incident involving Pakistan army personnel assaulting police officers has become widely discussed online. Subsequently, the SHO, ASI, and several officers from the Madrasa police station were arrested for their roles in the matter.

These officers were charged under Section 342 of the PPC for wrongful confinement and Section 155C of the Police Order 2002, which addresses police misconduct. Prior to the arrests, senior officials had suspended former SHO Rizwan Abbas, ASI Mohammad Naeem, and Constables Mohammad Iqbal and Ali Raza for illegally detaining individuals without presenting them to a magistrate.

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The arrested officers were accused of misusing their authority and failing to properly manage the situation involving army personnel. According to the FIR, on April 8th, ASI Naeem led a raid on the home of civilian Muhammad Anwar Jatt. SHO Rizwan Abbas and others forcefully entered the premises, during which violence was allegedly directed at women present.

The situation escalated when locals confined the SHO and other police officials in a room and filmed the encounter. Punjab police reinforcements later arrived, arresting individuals and allegedly using violence. SHO Abbas and others also reportedly faced assault.

Muhammad Anwar Jatt, his son Muhammad Khalil, an army member, Anti-Narcotics worker Muhammad Idris, and others were detained and taken to Madarsa Police Station, where cases were filed against 23 people.