By Mohammad Saleem

FAISALABAD: A police committee will begin from Tuesday (today) an inquiry into alleged torture of a woman at a police station.

Earlier, Abida Hameed, the alleged torture victim, had refused to join the inquiry team that visited Faisalabad on May 4 and May 5 as she demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.

The inquiry is being held on the orders of the Supreme Court after the court’s top judge initiated an independent action when electronic media aired clips of the torture. A case against 31 people, including policemen, was also instituted with the Rail Bazaar police for torturing the woman.

Abida told Dawn on Monday she was being pressured by police officials to join the three-member inquiry team. She says when she informed the inspector general about police tactics, the provincial police boss ordered a case against police officials. She said though the case had been registered, the accused were yet to be held.

The three-member committee consisting of Additional IG Aftab Sultan, DIG Shoaib Dastgir and DIG Mubashir will hear the accused and the victim at the Police Rest House on Tuesday.

A court of additional district and sessions judge had canceled the bail applications of former SHO Hafiz Irfan and SI Mian Akram, accused of torturing Abida. She said both officers were serving at police stations as their colleagues were reluctant to arrest them.

Abida Hameed was allegedly subjected to torture in Aug 2008 at the Civil Lines police station where she was brought in connection with a case regarding snatching of official documents, cash and a cell phone from sub-inspector Toheed Akhtar.
Source: Dawn
Date:5/25/2010