Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has shared a video showing a petrol pump employee slapping a man who was arrested after allegedly assaulting and threatening the worker for asking him not to smoke at a petrol station in Lahore.
The incident took place in Jubilee Town, where the employee reportedly asked the man to stop smoking because of the fire risk at the fuel station. According to police, the man assaulted and threatened the worker before fleeing the scene.
Lahore DIG Operations said police registered a case on the employee’s complaint and launched an investigation to identify and arrest the suspect.
یہ اُن بگڑے ہوئے اور مغرور لوگوں کے منہ پر ایک زوردار طمانچہ ہے جو غریبوں کو اپنے سے کمتر انسان سمجھتے ہیں اور یہ گمان کرتے ہیں کہ دولت اور طاقت کے بل بوتے پر وہ قانون سے بالاتر ہو سکتے ہیں اور جو چاہیں کر کے بچ نکلیں گے۔
بطور وزیرِ اعلیٰ پنجاب، میں مظلوموں کے ساتھ کھڑی ہوں، چاہے اُن پر ظلم کرنے والا کتنا ہی طاقتور کیوں نہ ہو۔ کسی کی دولت، اثر و رسوخ یا سیاسی تعلقات اُسے قانون کے کٹہرے میں جواب دہ ہونے سے نہیں بچا سکتے۔
انصاف صرف امیر اور طاقتور لوگوں کا حق نہیں، بلکہ ہر شہری کا بنیادی حق ہے۔ قانون سے بالاتر کوئی نہیں، اور کسی مظلوم کو محض اس لیے تنہا نہیں چھوڑا جا سکتا کہ اُس کے خلاف کھڑا ہونے والا شخص دولت اور طاقت رکھتا ہے۔
میرا عزم واضح ہے: مظلوم کو انصاف دلانے کے لیے ہر ممکن کوشش کی جائے گی، اور کسی کو بھی اپنے پیسے یا طاقت کے بل بوتے پر قانون سے بچ نکلنے کا حق نہیں دیا جا سکتا-
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 23, 2026
h2>Police Arrest Suspect After Petrol Pump Incident
During the investigation, police discovered that the vehicle involved in the incident was rented. Investigators traced the suspect through rental records and receipts before launching an operation to arrest him.
Police said the suspect resisted arrest during the operation. Officers also recovered a weapon from his possession, according to the police account.
Authorities have not provided further details about the weapon or the specific charges registered against the suspect.
The case has drawn attention to the safety risks associated with smoking at petrol stations, where fuel vapours can ignite under certain conditions. Petrol station employees regularly remind customers to follow safety rules to prevent fires and protect people at the site.
Maryam Nawaz Shares Arrest Video
Maryam Nawaz shared footage of the arrest on social media platform X. The video also showed the petrol pump employee slapping the suspect after police brought him to the police station.
The chief minister used the incident to criticise people who allegedly misuse wealth and influence to intimidate workers and other citizens.
“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 Nawaz wrote.
She said some individuals believed their money and power placed them above the law and allowed them to exploit or intimidate others without facing consequences.
Punjab CM Vows Accountability for Powerful Individuals
Maryam Nawaz said her government would support people who faced oppression, regardless of the social or financial position of those accused of mistreating them.
“Let me make one thing absolutely clear: As Chief Minister of Punjab, I stand firmly with the oppressed, regardless of how powerful their oppressors may be,” she said.
The chief minister stressed that wealth, influence and political connections should not allow anyone to avoid accountability.
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“No amount of wealth, influence, or political connections should enable anyone to escape accountability. Justice is not a privilege reserved for the rich and powerful; it is a fundamental right of every citizen,” she added.
She further said that nobody stood above the law and that victims should not have to fight alone because an alleged perpetrator had money or influence.
Case Highlights Workplace Safety and Equal Treatment
The incident has brought attention to the challenges faced by workers who must enforce safety rules while dealing with customers.
Smoking at a petrol station can create a serious fire hazard. Employees who intervene to prevent unsafe behaviour should be able to raise concerns without facing threats or violence.
At the same time, police investigations and legal proceedings must establish the facts and determine responsibility through the proper legal process.
Maryam Nawaz’s post has placed the incident in the wider debate over equal treatment, workplace safety and accountability in Punjab.
Police have arrested the suspect, recovered a weapon, and continued the legal process following the employee’s complaint. The case will now depend on the evidence gathered by investigators and the relevant legal proceedings.
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