By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Punjab Police on Wednesday denounced the spread of what it called “fake propaganda” following the circulation of videos on social media that appeared to show Pakistan Army officers allegedly assaulting police personnel in Bahawalnagar.
The police have stated that the incident has been misconstrued and blown out of proportion.
“This matter in Bahawalnagar, which went viral on social media, has been taken out of context and exaggerated,” the police said in a statement on the social media platform X.
The controversy began when several clips surfaced online late on Wednesday, allegedly depicting army officers in the act of beating police officials on Monday in Bahawalnagar, some 400 kms from the provincial capital Lahore.
The videos, which quickly went viral, included disturbing images of a man with a bloodied nose and police officers being forced to kneel by military personnel.
In another clip, two young, uniformed cops were seen running to escape being caught by the army personnel but are ultimately caught.
However, the veracity of the videos remains unverified.
Media reported that the incident was triggered by the recovery of an illegal weapon from an army soldier’s relative.
The incident has attracted political attention, with former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf party leader Hammad Azhar suggesting that the Punjab police chief should resign, and PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan demanding an unedited public release of a comprehensive inquiry into the matter.
In a clarifying statement, the Punjab Police said the incident was being portrayed in a way to “imply that there has been fighting between the Pakistan Army and Punjab Police”.
“When the unverified videos went viral, both institutions launched a joint investigation. Officers from both institutions reviewed the facts and peacefully resolved the matter,” the statement said.
“Punjab Police and the Pakistan Army are cooperating to eliminate terrorists, miscreants and criminals from the province. We request that social media users do not spread fake propaganda.”
Another video posted on the Punjab Police’s X account showed police and military officials chanting ‘Long Live Pakistan Army’.
Despite the public statement, specifics regarding the events leading to the viral videos including the beating of police officials by the soldiers, were not discussed by the Punjab Police.
Additionally, an FIR was registered at the Madrasa police station in Bahawalnagar on April 10, following a complaint by Inspector Saifullah. The FIR cited sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Police Order 2002, pertaining to wrongful confinement and police misconduct.
Inspector Saifullah, the newly appointed station house officer (SHO), referred to an earlier FIR from April 8, which led to the arrest of three individuals without proper investigation. The former SHO and other officers involved were accused of misusing their authority and failing to perform their duties, resulting in legal proceedings against them.
The initial FIR included charges of rioting, attempted murder, and theft, among others. It was reported that the police had encountered two individuals during a patrol, who fled upon noticing the officers.
The Punjab Police have reiterated their commitment to lawful conduct and have taken steps to address any misconduct within their ranks. The situation remains under review, with further details pending from ongoing investigations.
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