Senate opposition leader moves privilege motion against Barakahu SHO

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the Senate Raja Nasir Abbas has filed a privilege motion against the Station House Officer (SHO) of Barakahu Police Station, alleging that he was prevented from reaching his residence and subjected to "rude and discourteous" treatment at a police checkpoint.

The motion, submitted to Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani under the Senate Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, seeks disciplinary and legal action against Sub-Inspector Naeem-ul-Hassan, alleging that his conduct amounted to a breach of parliamentary privilege.

The development comes a day after police stopped a high-level delegation of the Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP), led by National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, from travelling to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where the alliance had planned to join an ongoing sit-in in Rawalakot. Police officials had reportedly informed the delegation that they were acting on directives from their senior officers.

The delegation comprised Raja Nasir Abbas, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, TTAP spokesperson Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai and Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry, counsel for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan.

In the privilege motion, dated June 29, Abbas stated that he was travelling to his residence in Satra Meel, Islamabad, at around 5:30pm when he encountered a police checkpoint in Barakahu where the road had been blocked.

According to the motion, SHO Naeem-ul-Hassan, accompanied by a large contingent of police personnel, approached his vehicle and informed him that he would not be allowed to proceed further.

Abbas said he identified himself as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and informed the officer that his residence was located only about two kilometres from the checkpoint.

Despite this, the motion alleges, the SHO refused to allow him to continue his journey and failed to extend the courtesy due to an elected member of Parliament.

"The SHO neither paid heed to my explanation nor extended the respect and courtesy befitting a member of the Senate. Instead, he continued to behave in an insulting and disrespectful manner," the motion states.

The opposition leader argued that the actions of the police officer and the personnel accompanying him not only obstructed his movement but also interfered with the discharge of his parliamentary responsibilities.

Describing the incident as a "gross act of disrespect" towards a member of the Upper House, Abbas maintained that the officer's conduct constituted a breach of the privileges of the Senate and its members.

He requested the Senate chairman to refer the matter to the Senate Privileges Committee for a thorough inquiry and appropriate disciplinary and legal action against the SHO for the alleged violation of parliamentary privilege.