No Formal Complaint Filed Over Heckling of Ex-CJP Isa’s Vehicle, Says London Police
LONDON: Over a week after former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s vehicle was surrounded and heckled by PTI protesters following an event at Middle Temple in London, City of London Police confirmed to Dawn that no formal complaint has been lodged regarding the incident.
Responding to inquiries about the reported “attack” on a diplomatic vehicle carrying Isa, a police spokesperson stated: “We are aware of the incident that occurred on October 29, near Chancery Lane, where protesters surrounded a vehicle. Currently, no formal complaints have been filed with the City of London Police.
The incident took place on Tuesday when PTI protesters reportedly chased and banged on the car of the Pakistan High Commission in which Mr. Isa was traveling. The event went viral after videos surfaced online showing the protesters surrounding the vehicle.
Following the incident, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi issued a statement, promising that a formal complaint would be filed with the police and that those responsible would face punishment. Pakistan High Commission sources later confirmed that a complaint had been submitted to the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), with the matter being investigated by the authorities. Diplomatic police, a specialist unit within the Metropolitan Police responsible for protecting diplomatic properties, is handling the case, as the vehicle Isa was traveling in was a diplomatic one.
The Metropolitan Police, when questioned, clarified that the jurisdiction for the Chancery Lane area does not fall under their remit, as it is under the City of London Police’s responsibility.
In a separate development, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif departed London for Geneva on Wednesday for scheduled medical check-ups. He is expected to return to London shortly before heading back to Pakistan on November 16. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is anticipated to accompany him to Geneva.
