The Hoodlumism of Army Officers and the Blatant Lack of Accountability
Recently Mr Ali Anan Qamar, an Assistant Coordination Officer and in-charge of Sheikh Yasin camp was beaten up and publicly humiliated by two officers of Pakistan Army, Maj. Asad Jamal and Lt. Haider marwat of 32nd Cavalry on 8th July 2009. Mr Qamar is a very well educated official of the government and we fear that if such treatment is meted out to high officials of the civil bureaucracy what may be happening to those who are the poor and illiterate in society and who cannot even raise their voices.
Ali Anan Qamar wrote on PkPolitics.com
Today on 08-07-09, at about 11:00AM, I was sitting in my office at Skeikh Yasin Camp, when Lt Haider of 32 cavalry came to my office. Apparently he was in on angry mood and told me that Major Asad 32 cavalry was not happy with me. He mentioned as list of things which Major Asad wanted to be done through me. I responded and if he had any complaints against me, he better report it to the DCO and Commissioner Mardan.
He threatened me with dire consequences. I then proceeded to the Rub Hall, where an army JCO came and asked me to report about the tents which the army had provided to the camp. I responded that I will hand over a report to some officer like a captain or a major. The JCO misbehaved with me there, in front of many witnesses including two doctors for ERU who had brought in Atta for the IDPs. The JCO too accused me of abusing the army and refused to move, but later some civilians finally managed to take him away from the Rub Hall.
About half an hour later, while I was standing in a container along with Wajid of SRSP, that I saw army jawans fully armed beating up the IDPs. Then Major Asad and Lt Haider rushed towards one with 35/40 troops fully armed and Major Asad said, “Pick him up”.
The jawan of army led by Major Asad and Lt Haider started beating me up mercilessly with fists, shoes and butts of gun and abused me continuously. I was thrown on the ground and beaten. Then they picked me up from my hands and legs and dragged me towards the military vehicle parked outside.
The jawans beat me continuously under the directions of Major Asad and forced me to sit on the floor of the vehicle with my head down. I was then alternately asked to stand on the seat of the vehicle with my hands raised. The beating continued, the abuses continued. The IDPs were rounded up and made to look at my beating the message was given that this is your ACO, and we the army are throwing him out. We have taken over..
I was then thrown on the ground and then dragged on to as to the main Charsadda Road. There my shirt was ripped open and I was asked to lie on the road. Then amidst the continuous beating, Major Asad stopped a rickshaw and I was put in the rickshaw. Lt Haider come to me and said, now you know what the army is and beat me more.
In this whole ordeal I have sustained injuries on the chin and head, bruises on the face, which will be shown in the medicolegal certificate. Prior to the incident they raided my office and took away the record of the camp. Lt Haider took away my two mobiles telephones 1 Nokia communicator with Ufone Sim 0334-4119821 and 2 Sony Erricson 03004132534. The Lt Haider also took away my wallet with some cash in it and ID Cards, Aim Cards, Driving Lenience and Service Card. That cash amounted to R.S 3000-4000/-
I charge Major Asad and Lt Haider for physically assaulting me, causing injuries on my chin and other parts of the body and obstructing me form tha discharge of my official duty, snatching my purse and mobiles. I can also identify the other accused if they are produced before me.
The accused also gave beating to my gun man Qayyum, Mr. Wajid from SRSP and some others who were accompanying me at that time.
08-07-09
Signed by Ali Anan Qamar
On the 14th of July Kamran Shafi wrote a column in Dawn and questioned about this incident to say Whatever happened to Thana Saddar, Mardan, FIR No: 416/09 dated July 8, 2009?
As of now we do not need to make this issue too ‘political’ but an issue of rights of an individual and urge the Pakistan army to take quick action against its officers mentioned in the FIR. Only recently Anan Qamar’s wife Knawal Qamar wrote in seriously doubting the Army’s intention in bringing justice with the following email
Today ie on 14-07-09 at 10 pm Mr Ejaz Haider conducted an hour long discussion on this issue in his program Siasiyaat aired on Samaa News Channel..Lt Col Waseem was also contacted in this program and he spoke the following lies on air:
- That this issue is resolved and a reconciliation has taken place.
- The event was just based on a MISUNDERSTANDING
- The army officers did not beat up Mr Anan.
- He was bleeding just because he might have been hurt by his nail
Trust me, his statements were most shocking to us because we have a handwritten note of apology addressed to my husband after this incident..by the same Lt. who was lying to the people of Pakistan and hiding facts.The FIR No. is 416 (Thana Saddar Mardan) dated: 08-07-09
Till now we are not sure if army is serious about conducting an inquiry because we don’t have any documentary response from the army on this issue as yet.
Lt Col Waseems blatant lies on air have made us even more determined to fight for our right till the very end. Please see if u can get a recording of that program.
Regards!
Kanwal
Comment Meta: Leave a comment | Subscribe to the Comment Feed | Upload your Comment Image
115 Responses to “The Hoodlumism of Army Officers and the Blatant Lack of Accountability”