Tourists accuse police of multiple assaults, sexual harassment in Pakistan

A video of an attack on them by a policeman surfaced on Saturday while it transpired on Sunday that it was one of many alleged assaults that the cycling tourists, namely Alex Sidney of Italy, Charlie West of the UK and Motahhareh Abbasi of Iran, had been facing since they entered Punjab, Dawn News reported.

They were reportedly having Punjab police escort who were there to ensure security.

They alleged the police attacked them.

“On Saturday, when we left our hotel in Sadiqbad in the morning, we were escorted by police. We were having breakfast at a roadside hotel, when another police van, different from our escort, reached there. We had never seen these three policemen before,” says Alex while talking to Dawn from Sadiqabad by phone.

“When we asked him why, he did not give a reply and instead tried to snatch the camera. He grabbed me from my hair and threw me down on the floor. He tried to hit me with a large stick but went back towards his vehicle having my camera,” alleged the Italian tourist.