Kidnap, torture of cops: Minister's son gets interim bail

LAHORE: A court here on Friday granted interim bail to Punjab Minister for Housing Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed’s son who is facing charges of kidnapping and torturing three policemen in Lahore.

The court approved bail for Mian Hassan against a surety bond of Rs 100,000 until Oct 15.

It summoned complete record of the case from the Ghalib Market police station on next hearing.

Police said the Ghalib Market area police personnel allegedly caught a young man and a girl in a car. As the police were taking them to the police station, the youth named Mian Hassan arrived there along with his three friends in two cars.

The police said the suspects snatched guns from policemen, pushed them into their cars and sped away. They later dropped the policemen at different places and escaped.

The police said when they traced the cars with the help of CCTV footage one of them was found to be in the name of PTI leader and provincial minister Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed.

The minister, while talking to the media, said his son’s friends had organised a tea party at a famous restaurant and were on their way to the restaurant when at least three police officers stopped their car and demanded Rs 50,000 as bribe.

“Ali (his son’s friend) said he doesn’t have Rs 50,000 and could only give them two thousand rupees upon which they tortured him,” said the PTI leader.

He added that Ali then telephoned his son for help upon which he reached the spot.

The minister, however, categorically denied that his son was involved in immoral activities or in torturing police personnel.

“I have asked him to cooperate with police in investigation and if his involvement is determined, I will resign from my post,” said the PTI leader.