ISLAMABAD: On the directions of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the Islamabad police have taken into custody a vehicle fraudulently using a senator`s number plate.

The action was taken after the minister took notice of an open letter written by senior journalist Mariana Baabar to the chairman Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani, complaining about rash behaviour of a `senator` who according to her nearly overran her on the expressway a few days ago.

In her letter, Ms Baabar said at 12 noon on February 16 a vehicle bearing an Islamabad number plate (RV-333) nearly overran her on the expressway while driving from Rawalpindi to Islamabad.

`As I heard loud honking and lights flashing, I glance at the rear view mirror whether it was a vehicle providing emer-gency service or from security detail. It was neither. Rather it appeared to be someone driving recklessly with Senator RV-333 showing on the licence plate. I glanced to the leftbut there wasno space to turn and carried on. This was when I witnessed menacing and threatening behaviour of the `senator`s vehicle and I knew I had to move.

With great difficulty while using the indicator, I squeezed on to the left lane causing great annoyance to the vehicles already on that lane. This was a slow process but the senator`s vehicle was impatient even when space was being given for it to pass. Quickly the vehicle zoomed past breaking all speed limits.

Taking notice of the letter, the interior minister directed the police to take the vehicle into custody for violating traffic rules and harassing others on the road, and investigate the matter. The police have taken the vehicle into its custody and started an investigation. According to thepreliminary investigation, the owner of the vehicle was not a senator but was using the number plate on the basis of his relationship with a senator.

An official of the interior ministry said legal action had been initiated against the person for using the senator`s number plate without authority.

Ms Baabar, when contacted, said the interior ministry had confirmed to her that the owner was a relative of PPP Senator from Balochistan Rozi Khan Kakar. She said the person should be tried in accordance with the law on the charges of impersonation besides harassment and blatant violation of traffic rules endangering the lives of many.

When contacted, Senator Rozi Khan Kakar denied that the owner of the vehicle was his relative. `I do not know the person and have no relationship with him.` He said the man should be tried for impersonating as a lawmaker.