A viral undated video has shown an Islamabad police officer using the loudspeaker of a mosque to warn kite-flyers, threatening to publicly beat them up with shoes, file an FIR [First Information Report] against their fathers and demolishing their homes.
As per the details, the viral video showed a man introducing himself as the SHO [station house officer] of the federal capital’s Secretariat Police Station, Ashfaq Warraich.
“If someone is caught flying a kite, I will file an FIR against their father and will beat them publicly with a shoe,” he can be seen as announcing through the loudspeaker of a mosque, adding that kite-flying was a deadly game that could cost someone their life.
In the video, Warraich goes on to say that anyone involved in kite-flying would also have their house demolished.
The video that started doing the rounds on social media Sunday has left netizens divided. While some commend the SHO for his commitment towards cracking down on the deadly game, others are criticising him for threatening the public with “extrajudicial” actions.
“I agree with this message from @ICTPolice. Children stand on rooftops to fly kites. They may fall and get injured, and the kite strings can also harm others by cutting their throats. Show no leniency; this is truly a deadly game and should be banned!” wrote one user.
Another social media user wrote, “SHO Sahab ki baat bilkul theek hai. bache to bache hote hain lekin ghar k badon ko is baat ka khyaal rakhna chahiye k patangbaazi se apne bachon ko door rakhen [SHO Sahib is absolutely right. Kids are just kids. However, grownups at home should keep their kids away from kite flying].”
“Under what law can the SHO demolish houses?” asked a netizen.
Another user questioned the “misuse of authority” by the cop and wrote, “An SHO in Islamabad allegedly used a mosque’s loudspeaker to threaten kite-flyer fathers with severe punishments. This misuse of authority questions the integrity of legal governance. Lawlessness in the capital [sic].”
“Seriously? Policeman, not even officers, threats tax payers face the house being demolished and jailed on the illegal case 4 Kite flying. Some1 promised him next police chief [sic],” said another user.
“Steps should be taken to stop kite flying, but this behaviour of the police officer is very worrying. It seems that the Islamabad police have been trained to adopt an aggressive attitude, which is very dangerous. The use of derogatory words towards the public indicates the flaws in the Islamabad police system,” read a separate post.
