Karachi DHA scuffle: Probe clears accused, faults police

KARACHI: An inquiry into a widely circulated CCTV video showing a violent altercation at an apartment building in

KARACHI: An inquiry into a widely circulated CCTV video showing a violent altercation at an apartment building in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase 6 has found that the allegations contained in the initial FIR were not supported by the investigation.

The inquiry report, submitted to the Karachi police additional inspector general by South Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza, also recommended departmental proceedings against several police officials for alleged negligence, partiality and misconduct during the incident.

The dispute reportedly began over a parking issue involving the mother-in-law of Korangi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Fida Hussain Janwari and another resident of the apartment building.

The inquiry team reviewed CCTV recordings, mobile phone footage, departmental records and other available evidence, besides recording statements from 13 people to establish what happened.

The report identified two constables, Saqib and Haider Sultan, as the uniformed officers seen at the scene. It said both were deployed for security duties at the Korangi SSP’s private residence.

Another constable, Taimoor Ahmed, was identified as the plainclothes officer who allegedly damaged the CCTV camera, while Constable Amir Sohail was accused of handing over his weapon for the act.

According to the findings, the FIR’s version of events was not supported by the evidence. The inquiry recommended that the existing case be dealt with according to law and that a fresh FIR be registered against the SSP’s mother-in-law, her daughter and son, as well as the police officials present during the confrontation.

The report also criticised Darakhshan police SHO Rashid Ali and Assistant Sub-Inspector Aftab Mangi for making arrests at the scene without sufficient justification. Their conduct, it said, indicated a possible bias towards the more aggressive side.

The investigating officer, identified as SIP Imran, was also criticised for allegedly failing to make serious efforts to collect evidence and for not conducting an independent investigation.

The inquiry recommended departmental proceedings against the three officers for what it described as a miscarriage of justice.

The report was particularly critical of Constables Taimoor and Amir, saying their alleged role in facilitating one side of the confrontation and damaging the CCTV camera went beyond the limits of lawful police duty and could amount to criminal misconduct.

Constables Saqib and Haider were also accused of failing to perform their responsibilities impartially. The inquiry said their alleged negligence and partisanship contributed to the escalation of the confrontation and recommended strict departmental action against all four constables.

The report further pointed to a failure of supervision by the Korangi SSP and recommended that his overall conduct be examined under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020.

The inquiry called for police officials to properly train and supervise personnel assigned to private staff duties, stressing that officers must act within the law and treat citizens fairly.

It also advised police personnel to inform their immediate superiors when confronted with disputes or potentially volatile situations instead of acting on instructions from unauthorised family members.

The controversy began after CCTV footage from the apartment building circulated on social media. The footage appeared to show a woman carrying a dumbbell rushing towards another woman and striking her, while two uniformed individuals restrained the woman who was attacked.

The recording later showed people arguing outside an apartment before a man in traditional clothing used a weapon handed to him by one of the uniformed men to smash the CCTV camera.

An FIR registered at Darakhshan police station shortly after midnight on August 21 presented a different account, accusing a man, his sister and their mother of entering the complainant’s residence, verbally abusing and assaulting her following a dispute over parking.