LAHORE, July 10: The Punjab government on Wednesday removed two senior police officers of Multan district for showing a lack of supervision in case registration and investigation into gang rape of two women in Shujabad tehsil and made them officers on special duty.

According to a notification, Multan City Police Officer Ghulam Mehmood Dogar, and SSP (Investigation) Wazir Khan Nasir were transferred and directed to report to the headquarters of the Services & General Administration Department and the Central Police Office.

Multan SSP (Operations) Khurram Shakoor will also look after the office of the CPO till appointment of the new city police chief.

A police source told Dawn that the transfers had been made on the intervention of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

A group of 13 armed men had gang-raped two women in the Shujabad area on June 3 this year and a team headed by the Punjab police inspector general had visited the crime scene and collected information about the incident.

The local police had refused to register the gang-rape case against the influential men when father of the victims submitted an application for this purpose. The chief minister took notice after the local media highlighted the incident.

Accompanied by the Punjab home secretary, head of Intelligence Bureau and DIG (Monitoring & Investigation) Akhtar Hayyat Lalika, IG Khan Baig reached Shujabad on June 22 and collected information about the case.

The team reviewed the case and recorded statements of victims and their family members. Finally, Mr Baig suspended the Raja Ram Police Station SHO as well as investigation officer and got a case registered against them. Multan Sadar division SP Rab Nawaz was also transferred and made OSD afterwards.

An inquiry has also been ordered against the policemen for using delaying tactics in registration of case against the accused. — Staff Reporter