Punjab Govt Forms JIT to Investigate Bahawalnagar Incident

News Desk 

Islamabad: The notification regarding the formation of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) by the Punjab government to look into the Bahawalnagar incident has been released.

As reported by Dawn News, the notification appoints Special Secretary Home, Fazlur Rehman, as the convener of the JIT. Commissioner Bahawalpur Nadir Chatta and Deputy Inspector General (Special Branch) Faisal Raja are named as members of the team.

Furthermore, representatives from the ISI and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) will also be included as members of the JIT.

The incident in question occurred on April 10 when several videos surfaced on social media depicting individuals dressed in army uniforms allegedly assaulting policemen in Bahawalnagar. One video showed a man with a bloody nose, while another depicted policemen being forced to kneel by a man and two individuals in military attire.

Some social media users claimed the incident stemmed from the police confiscating illegal arms from a soldier’s relative. It’s worth noting that it could not independently verify the authenticity of the viral video clips.

Politicians, including PTI leader Hamad Azhar and spokesperson Rauf Hasan, expressed outrage over the incident. Azhar called for the resignation of the Punjab police chief, criticizing the provincial government’s handling of the matter. Hasan emphasized the need for a transparent and comprehensive inquiry into the incident.

In response, the Punjab police issued a statement denying claims that the incident involved a confrontation between the Pakistan Army and the Punjab Police.

The statement asserted that both agencies cooperated in initiating a joint investigation and resolved the matter amicably after reviewing the facts.

The Punjab police also emphasized the collaboration between the police and the army in combating terrorism and criminal activities in the province, urging social media users not to spread false information.

Additionally, a post showed police and army personnel chanting slogans of ‘Pak Fauj, Punjab Police Zindabad’.