BAHAWALPUR: A police sub-inspector has been suspended and arrested after a video showing him slapping a citizen in Bahawalpur went viral on social media, sparking public outrage.
The officer, identified as Sub-Inspector Awais Arshad of Police Chowki Lari Adda, was suspended from service, and a departmental charge sheet was issued against him, according to officials.
In a statement posted on X, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the incident reportedly occurred while the officer was inspecting a hotel for verification purposes.
She said immediate criminal and departmental proceedings had been initiated against the officer. An FIR was registered against him, and he was subsequently arrested, she added.
The chief minister said the departmental charge sheet had also been issued to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the officer.
It was reported that SI Awais Arshad slapped a citizen during an inspection of a hotel, where the officer was present for verification purposes. Immediate criminal and departmental proceedings have been initiated against the officer.
The following actions have been taken:
1. *FIR registered* against the officer and *arrested* .
2. Officer *suspended* from service.
3. Departmental *charge sheet issued* for disciplinary proceedings.Strict accountability is being ensured to prevent misuse of authority and uphold the respect, honour and rights of the citizens.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 26, 2026
According to the district police spokesperson, the incident took place two days earlier when a married couple from another city was staying at a private hotel.
The affected citizen alleged that the sub-inspector had demanded a bribe and subjected him to violence during questioning.
Maryam Nawaz said strict accountability was being ensured to prevent the misuse of authority and protect the respect, dignity and rights of citizens.
The video showing the officer slapping the citizen circulated widely on social media, prompting criticism and demands for action against the police official.
Lahore CCD officer accused of assaulting girl and recording video
Earlier, in a separate incident, a Crime Control Department (CCD) police official was booked after a girl accused him of sexually assaulting her and recording an obscene video, according to the FIR.
A case was registered against CCD official Muhammad Shabbir at Kahna police station on the complaint of the affected girl.
According to the FIR, the girl, a resident of Kot Lakhpat, went to Kahna Bazaar on October 1, where her mobile phone went missing from her purse.
She approached Kahna police station over the missing phone, where she met Shabbir, a CCD police official. The complainant said he took her mobile phone number and later contacted her.