July 03, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 28, 1429

GUJRANWALA, July 2: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday suspended from service Hafizabad Sadar DSP Fazal Elahi, Wanike Tarar SHO Inspector Mujahid Shah and the whole staff of the police station for not registering two robbery-cum-rape cases on time and their failure to arrest the suspects.

He also ordered that proceedings against the four suspects, who have been arrested now, be initiated in an anti-terrorism court.

The chief minister announced that policemen of the Wanike Tarar police station found guilty of negligence in a departmental inquiry would be sacked from their service. He also announced Rs300,000 compensation for each victim family.

On May 17, 2008, four robbers barged into the house of Fateh Muhammad and raped his wife (N) after looting valuables. Two days later, they broke into the house of Bashir Ahmed and raped his 16 year-old-daughter (M).

Fateh Muhammad and Bashir Ahmed alleged that Wanike Tarar police did not register any case against the suspects.

The chief minister regretted that the local police did not fulfil its duties even after the CIA had arrested the culprits and one of them admitted to committing the robbery-cum-rape incidents. He said he could not tolerate oppression in all its kinds and manifestations.

The chief minister showed his utter displeasure when the affected families were taken to the local girls school to meet with him and said that he would meet them at their houses.

Sharif said he was not the chief minister of the province but ‘watchman’ and would work as a watchman. He said the poor and oppressed people would be provided justice at thresholds of their doors.

Meanwhile, Inspector Arshad Sekhu has taken the charge of the Wanike Tarar SHO.

Hafizabad DPO Afzal Butt told Dawn that the Wanike Tarar police registered a case of robbery alone around a month after the first incident was reported and did not mention the offence of rape with (N) because the complainant had not mentioned it in his complaint he had filed with the police.

He said it was the delay in the registration of FIR, not omitting rape charges, and subsequent inaction of the police, which annoyed the chief minister and he suspended from service the whole staff of the police station and the area DSP.

Regarding the second case, the DPO said that victim (M) or her family never lodged any complaint with the police and indeed the police persuaded them to pursue their case after the incident was reported to them.

He said the CIA staff arrested the culprits around a week ago and a court on Wednesday handed over their custody to the police on a three-day physical remand for the second time.