Students of Lahore School of Economics (LSE) refused to pursue a case against a CNG station staff for breaking the law and manhandling students, Pakistan Today has learnt.
An instance of citizens showing complete distrust in the Lahore Police was seen as a group of LSE students were beaten and manhandled by the a CNG station’s staff and refused to go to police. According to the details, four LSE students went to a CNG pump, Mashallah CNG, which was filling gas on Wednesday morning. The students got in the queue to get their car’s tank filled. When their turn arrived, the CNG pump operator refused to fill gas in their car. The students tried to take a picture of the staff filling gas in another car when a member of the staff attacked the students, beat them and tried to snatch their cell phones. Later, the students went to the Burki Police Station and filed a report against the pump owners. Police accompanied the students back to the pump after which the police started supporting the pump owners. Sub-Inspector Ashraf of the Burki Police Station was called inside the manager’s office for a cup of tea by the pump manager. Ashraf asked the students to show up at the police station on Thursday for negotiations. The students noticed that police had altered loyalties and so they refused to pursue the case any further.
“Police were openly inclined towards the CNG pump owners as they are known to be influential in the Burki area”, said one of the students. Ashraf altered the students’ version of the story and said that the pump operator had agreed to fill gas in the students’ car but since the students were in a hurry, he had asked them to quicken the process, a scuffle erupted between the staff and students.
Abdur Rasheed, the contractor of the pump, said that he was filling gas in his own car and students started taking pictures of him, which infuriated guards. Cantt Superintendent of Police (SP) Syed Ashmat said that police would ensure their support to students and action would be taken against the CNG pump staff. “Our job is to protect and serve the city. No citizen should be afraid of going to police if any such issue arises as the perpetrators would be dealt with sternly”, said the SP.
The SP after getting the details of the entire case interfered in the matter and the conflict was resolved. The LSE Students’ Council agreed on accepting a written apology from the pump owner for manhandling the students.