Firdous Ashiq Awan apologises for slapping cop

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday reserved its decision on a complaint filed against Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan for slapping a policeman during counting of votes on election day, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Earlier, IPP leader appeared before the ECP to submit her reply regarding allegations of assaulting a police officer. The hearing, presided over by a two-member bench with Member Sindh Nisar Durrani at the helm.

Firdous Ashiq Awan, accompanied by her legal counsel, submitted a written reply to the ECP, addressing the accusations levelled against her. The ECP also received a corresponding written statement from the police official involved.

“Who are you to take the law into your hands?” Member Sindh Durrani sked Firdous Ashiq Awan. In response, she highlighted the unique circumstances surrounding the incident, stating, “There were 381 polling stations in my constituency, such incident did not happen anywhere else.”

Firdous then offered an apology, expressing regret for her actions. “The law [officers] should have protected me, the crowd was harassing me,” she asserted. Member Sindh Durrani remarked, “We did not expect a slap from you.”

Later the commission reserved the verdict in the slapping case.

During the last hearing, Firdous Awan was asked to formally submit a written response.

Reporter Usman Khan