Trader alleges police violence during plastic bag crackdown

Trader alleges police violence during plastic bag crackdown

ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad police official allegedly assaulted and threatened a shopkeeper during a crackdown on plastic shopping bags, with a video of the incident circulating widely on social media and traders demanding action against those responsible.

The incident reportedly took place within the jurisdiction of Loi Bher Police Station during a campaign launched by the district administration to enforce restrictions on plastic shopping bags.

According to the affected shopkeeper, a police official visited his shop and allegedly slapped him after finding several shopping bags on the premises. The shopkeeper claimed that the official also threatened him with serious consequences and took him to the police station.

The shopkeeper further maintained that some of the bags found at his shop fell within the category of bags permitted under government regulations, raising questions over the manner in which the crackdown was being conducted.

A video purportedly showing the incident later surfaced on social media and attracted widespread attention. However, neither the district administration nor the police initially issued an official statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the incident or responding to the allegations.

Trader representatives strongly condemned the alleged treatment of the shopkeeper and called for action against officials found responsible for misconduct.

All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran and Traders Action Committee Islamabad President Ajmal Baloch, Traders Action Committee Islamabad Secretary Khalid Chaudhry and other market representatives urged Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to take notice of the incident and ensure that the matter is investigated.

The traders alleged that the ongoing campaign against plastic bags had led to the harassment, humiliation and detention of several traders over the past three days. They called for the immediate release of detained traders and demanded an end to what they described as excessive action against shopkeepers.

Baloch questioned why authorities were targeting retailers instead of taking effective action against factories producing prohibited plastic bags. He argued that arresting or imposing fines on shopkeepers would not address the source of the problem unless manufacturers and suppliers were also held accountable.

Chaudhry also criticised what he described as the deployment of “self-appointed magistrates” during the campaign, claiming that such practices were inconsistent with a High Court ruling. He called on the administration to ensure that enforcement operations remained within the limits of the law.

The traders further alleged that plastic bags confiscated from shopkeepers were subsequently returned to markets and made available for sale again. They also claimed that smuggled bags seized by customs authorities were auctioned and later found their way back into the market.

The allegations have prompted traders to call for greater transparency in the enforcement campaign and for authorities to establish a clear mechanism for distinguishing between prohibited and legally permitted shopping bags.