Chinese nationals move Pak court over police harassment

Six Chinese nationals in Pakistan petitioned a high court against police harassment, including demanding money and putting restrictions on their movement in the name of security.

They filed the plea in the Sindh High Court in Karachi on Friday, where a two-judge bench heard the case.

The Bench issued notices to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others, including the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and its consulate in Karachi and relevant federal and provincial law officers.

Xu Hui, Deng Huan and four other Chinese nationals filed the petition through their counsel, submitting that they came to Pakistan after fulfilling all required legal formalities and invested a significant amount of money and resources in various business ventures and sectors in the country.

It is the first time Chinese nationals have approached a high court against harassment by police in Pakistan.

The petitioners cited Sindh’s chief secretary, the provincial home secretary, the inspector general of police, and other senior police officers as respondents. Counsel for the foreign nationals Rehman Mehsud told the media that his clients had decided to approach the court after being subjected to harassment, bribery demands, invasion of privacy and other problems in the name of security.

“They have complained that they are practically prisoners in their own homes, policemen enter their bedrooms without knocking, some take bribes for providing transportation if they want to go out,” he said.