Police officers rescued in Sahiwal after being taken hostage during raid

SAHIWAL: Police said they rescued five officials, including a woman constable, after they were taken hostage by a mob during a court-directed operation to recover a nine-year-old boy in village 11/14-L in Chichawatni in the early hours of Monday.

According to the police account, Muhammad Latif’s wife had remarried and left their son, Muhammad Hasan, in the care of her father, Faqir Muhammad, and her brothers, Mushtaq and Ashfaq. Latif had repeatedly asked his in-laws to return the child, but they declined and allegedly threatened him.

Latif then moved a writ petition before Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Shafiq in Chichawatni, seeking custody of his son. The court issued recovery warrants and instructed Kasowal police to recover the child from the residence of the in-laws.

Police team attacked during raid

A five-member police team led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Tahir Masood went to Mushtaq’s house in Iqbalnagar on Burewala Road to carry out the order. The team included constables Muhammad Asif, Naeem Iqbal, Hifza Ghaffar and a driver. During the raid, woman constable Hifza Ghaffar presented the court warrant for the child’s recovery.

Police said that after seeing the warrant, Mushtaq, his brother Ashfaq, his wife Akbari Bibi and his son Sheraz became angry. As they were living in a joint family arrangement, they called in other relatives, after which more than 21 men and women gathered at the spot carrying sticks and batons and raising slogans against the police.

According to the police version, Mushtaq tore the court order and refused to hand over the child. The mob then assaulted the police team, confined them in a room, and took away their mobile phones and cash.

Reinforcements sent after emergency call

A local resident informed police through the emergency helpline 15. In response, Kasowal police sent additional personnel, including members of the Elite Force. Police said the crowd scattered when reinforcements arrived.

Officers then arrested four suspects and recovered both the child and the five detained police officials from a room, according to the police. The SHO also said the officials had remained hostage for about half an hour.

A case has been registered on the complaint of ASI Tahir Masood against four named suspects and 20 unidentified individuals under sections 382, 353, 173, 342, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The named suspects were identified as Mushtaq, Ashfaq, Akbari Bibi and Sheraz. Police said further raids were continuing to apprehend the other people nominated in the case.