Inquiry launched after Police 'mistakenly' raid Attorney General's residence in Lahore

By Adnan Bhatti

LAHORE -- Senior Lahore Police officials on Wednesday visited the residence of Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan following the mistaken police raid on his house, as the department intensified its inquiry into the incident and pledged strict action against those responsible.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Administration Imran Kishwar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Discipline Muhammad Kashif and Superintendent of Police (SP) Cantonment Akhtar Nawaz visited the Attorney General's residence, where they met household staff and gathered details about the incident.

According to DIG Administration Imran Kishwar, a transparent inquiry is under way and stringent departmental action will be taken against all officers and personnel found responsible.

He also confirmed that the in-charge of the District Intelligence Branch (DIB) Cantonment had been suspended for allegedly providing incorrect information that led to the raid.

The incident occurred a day earlier when Sarwar Road Police mistakenly raided the residence of the Attorney General instead of a neighbouring property. A criminal case has since been registered against Sarwar Road Station House Officer (SHO) Irfan and 11 police personnel.

The FIR was lodged by Sub-Inspector Mushtaq Ali against his own SHO and the accompanying officers.

According to the preliminary inquiry, the police team had received information regarding the adjoining house but mistakenly entered the Attorney General's residence, where only domestic staff were present at the time.

The Attorney General's driver, Irfan, alleged that the SHO, accompanied by other police personnel, climbed over the main gate to gain entry to the premises and also removed the CCTV recording system during the operation.

Senior police officials said the SHO had carried out the raid without informing SP Cantonment Akhtar Nawaz, in violation of established procedures.

Police authorities expressed regret over the incident and apologised to the Attorney General, stating that a comprehensive investigation was under way. They added that the SHO and the other police personnel involved had been charge-sheeted for exceeding their authority during the operation.

Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan reportedly returned to his residence after concluding an official meeting upon being informed of the incident.