Lahore police book 11 officers after mistaken raid on attorney general's home
Lahore police booked 11 officers, including an SHO, after a mistaken raid on Attorney General Mansoor Awan's home left staff harassed and property damaged.
Laiba Zainab
Correspondent
Laiba Zainab is an award-winning journalist with nearly a decade of experience in digital media. She has received the DW & CEJ-IBA Data Journalism Award and the top digital media prize at the National Media Fellowship. At NUKTA, she covers underreported stories on health, crime, and social justice.
Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Awan.
Courtesy: agfp.gov.pk
Punjab police have booked 11 officials, including the station house officer of Sarwar Road police station, after a team mistakenly raided the Lahore home of Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Awan.
The officers scaled the main gate, harassed household staff and damaged flower pots during the operation, according to a first information report.
What happened during the raid on the attorney general's home?
A police team led by the Sarwar Road SHO entered Awan's residence by scaling the main gate.
Officers allegedly harassed staff working at the property and damaged flower pots outside the house. Awan was attending a meeting at the time and returned home only after being informed of the raid.
Why did police raid the wrong house?
Officers said they had received information that suspects were hiding in a neighboring house.
The team instead entered the attorney general's residence by mistake, police said. Investigators have described the operation as a case of mistaken identity rather than a targeted action against Awan.
What did the FIR allege against the officers?
Awan's driver, Irfan, alleged that police removed the property's CCTV system and later returned the digital video recorder after deleting its footage.
The FIR states that officers exceeded their legal authority during the operation. Sub-Inspector Mushtaq filed the complaint, alleging abuse of authority and misuse of official powers.
The case was registered against SHO Muhammad Irfan and 10 other police officials. All 11 were suspended after senior officials took notice of the incident, and the matter has since been handed to the Investigation Wing for further inquiry.
Police said the officers were charge-sheeted under relevant provisions of the Police Order, 2002, and that the SHO has since obtained interim bail from a court.
Is this the first time Lahore police have raided the wrong home?
The incident comes weeks after a separate Lahore police team stormed a judge's residence, drawing similar criticism.
Both cases have renewed scrutiny of how Lahore police, responsible for security in Pakistan's second-largest city, verify addresses before conducting raids.
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