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Pakistan protests "harassment" of staffer

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has lodged a "strong" protest with the Indian High Commission here for the alleged harassment a few days ago of a Pakistani counsellor based in its mission in New Delhi.

A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a police party on duty at a market in R.K. Puram, New Delhi on October 30 first alleged that Nadeem, the domestic help of the counsellor, was carrying counterfeit Indian currency.

However, under "public pressure", the police retracted the allegation. It said counsellor Moazzam Khan was pushed and insulted by the police when he reached the scene to rescue his servant.

Mr. Nadeem was taken to a police station from where he was freed after sometime. The statement said that the Indian High Commission counsellor Gitish Sarma was summoned by the Ministry the next day to lodge "a strong protest" over harassment of the counsellor by Indian Intelligence agents.

The statement also said Indian Deputy High Commissioner T.C.A. Raghavan had assured that he would take up the matter with the authorities in Delhi.

India denies allegations

PTI reports from New Delhi

Reacting to the allegations External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said that the police officers behaved "courteously" with both Mr. Moazzam Khan, and Mr. Nadeem.

Replying to a question, Mr. Sarna said Mr. Khan had even thanked the Station House Officer (SHO) of R.K. Puram for his "cooperation."

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