Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP) Inspector General Shaukat Hayat on Monday said FIR lodged against army officials is sealed.

He was briefing the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Communication, which met at Parliament House on Monday. MNA Hamidul Haq asked the details of a scuffle between army officials and motorway police, which took place on September 10.

Hayat said the patrolling officer had prevented a violator, who introduced himself as an army captain. But the police official issued him a ticket. On which the army officer got annoyed and summoned an army unit deployed at Attock Fort. After sometime some military personnel came and began to thump the three NH&MP officials. They also took them to the fort and later they were released. He said the motorway police have lodged a written complaint at Akora Khattak police station against the army officers, which was sealed. He told the legal condition to the committee that any FIR, which is registered at any police station, is valid for 60 years.

After the issue was highlighted in social as well as print and electronic media the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had clarified that the matter of a reported scuffle between officials of the NH&MP and army officers was being investigated.

“The matter is being inquired. Law will take its course in disposing the case and justice will be dispensed,” said an ISPR statement at that time.

Hayat said that NH&MP official Shaheen, who was on deputation, had committed suicide in August 2016 due to family problems. He rejected the misperception created by media that the factor of his suicide was official.

He said neither NH&MP issues tickets discriminately nor it accepts pressure. The committee took notice of transfer of NH&MP official, who issued ticket to the NHA chairman and sought a copy of the ticket.

PTI lawmaker Usman Tarakai said all institutions should work in their due mandate.

Earlier, the committee had deferred the consideration on “The Pakistan Private Couriers Regulatory Authority Bill, 2015” due to the absence of the mover, Belum Hasnain. Ministry of Communication Joint Secretary Altaf Asghar informed the committee that the ministry has arranged a meeting with the representatives of private courier companies. He said the companies said that Competition Commission of Pakistan was dealing with them and there was no need to form the regulation authority. Tarakai said the government has already handed over all authorities to their respective ministries, so there is no need for more authorities.