A judicial magistrate on Saturday ordered the release of a man accused of assaulting a petrol station employee in Lahore’s Jubilee Town after the complainant informed the court that the dispute had been resolved through a mutual compromise.
The suspect was arrested following widespread circulation of CCTV footage showing an alleged assault on a petrol pump worker who had asked him not to smoke on the premises.
According to police, the incident occurred when the suspect arrived at the filling station in an SUV to purchase fuel.
When a salesman requested that he refrain from smoking because of safety regulations, the suspect allegedly became aggressive, stepped out of his vehicle and physically assaulted the employee before fleeing.
Following the suspect’s arrest, Chung police presented him before a judicial magistrate on Saturday and requested 10 days of physical remand for further investigation.
However, the complainant appeared before the court and stated that the confrontation had resulted from a misunderstanding.
He confirmed that both parties had reached a compromise and told the magistrate that he no longer wished to pursue legal proceedings against the accused.
After hearing the complainant’s statement, Judicial Magistrate Ali Amjid discharged the suspect from the case and ordered his release.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif subsequently shared a video on social media appearing to show the petrol station employee slapping the arrested suspect while a police officer attempted to intervene.
In her accompanying remarks, the chief minister strongly criticised individuals who use their wealth or social influence to intimidate people from less privileged backgrounds.
“This is a tight slap in the face of those entitled, spoiled brats who look down upon the poor as if they were lesser human beings,” Maryam wrote.
“They arrogantly believe that money and power put them above the law, allowing them to exploit, intimidate, and act with impunity,” she added.
The chief minister reiterated her support for individuals subjected to violence or intimidation, regardless of the status of those accused.
She declared that she stood “firmly with the oppressed, regardless of how powerful their oppressors may be”.
“Justice is not a privilege reserved for the rich and powerful; it is a fundamental right of every citizen. No one is above the law, and no victim should ever have to fight alone simply because the perpetrator has money or influence,” she maintained.