ISLAMABAD: SSP Arsala Saleem, a female officer of the capital police, dragged herself into mess after she saluted the daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif outside the National Judicial Academy on Wednesday.
Huge outrage erupted among politicians and social media users, but it wasn’t enough as soon after the criticism she was issued legal notice by a lawyer Amna Ali seeking an ‘explanation’ and an ‘apology’ within 15 days for saluting a person who does not hold any public or government office.
Maryam Nawaz had arrived at the academy to appear before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) for the interrogation about the offshore assets of her family; as she came out of her car, SSP Arsala was seen walking up and saluting her.
Amna Ali is a member of Islamabad Bar Association and Islamabad High Court Bar Association and is reportedly affiliated with Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Under the notice, she asked under what authority SSP Arsala had undertaken the action for a person who does not hold any office and had been called by the JIT as an accused.
The notice demanded that the SSP issue an apology in the national media along with an explanation for her action within 15 days or else there would incur legal proceedings and damages.
The act of SSP Arsala has so far gathered criticism by the politicians, media personnel and civil society mainly on social media.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan took to Twitter and said it is “inexplicable why private citizen Maryam getting official protocol with police saluting as she goes to appear before criminal investigation?”
Inexplicable why private citizen Maryam getting official protocol with police saluting as she goes to appear before criminal investigation?
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 5, 2017
He further tweeted, “The Pakistani nation must decide once and for all whether we are a democracy or a Badshahat.”
The Pakistani nation must decide once and for all whether we are a democracy or a Badshahat. https://t.co/8kiOHR9XGY
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 5, 2017
Following the suit, Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza also criticized saying that she was taken from court to jail without lady police. "kiya main kisi ki Beti nahi thee Mian sahib,” she asked while penning “shame shame shame.”
Shame shame shame. From court to jail without lady police"kiya main kisi ki Beti.nahi thee Mian sahib"?? pic.twitter.com/WFQ5RWD68H
— Syeda Shehla Raza (@SyedaShehlaRaza) July 4, 2017
Moreover, the bashing continued all over the twitter.