Shahbaz suspends police officials in Muzaffargarh rape case

APP Dawn.com Published March 15, 2014

MUZAFFARGARH: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday suspended regional police officials and directed to arrest the DSP, SHO and investigation officer concerned over negligence in the gang rape case probe.

RPO Dera Ghazi Khan, Abdul Qadir Qayyum and DPO Muzaffargarh, Usman Akram Gondal were suspended for not taking action against the investigations officer concerned during the chief minister’s visit to the residence of the rape victim, who died after she set herself ablaze in protest against a police report which helped her alleged rapist obtain bail.

Sharif visited the house of the deceased in Basti Lundi Patafi here and condoled with her parents. He directed immediate arrest of the DSP, SHO and the investigations officer of Thana Bait Meer Hazar.

A local court had granted bail to the main accused in the alleged rape on Thursday, following which the girl went to the Bait Meer Hazar police station and lodged a protest with an investigation officer for favouring the accused in his report.

She later doused her clothes with petrol and set herself on fire outside the police station in the presence of her younger brother. Some passers-by and policemen had taken her to Jatoi Civil Hospital. She had been later shifted to Nishtar Hospital in Multan because of her critical condition.

Nishtar Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Shaukat Malik said the girl had sustained 80 per cent burns.

According to sources, the 18-year-old girl was returning home from her college on Jan 5 when the accused, along with his four accomplices, allegedly raped her in a deserted area.

Also read: Girl was not raped, Sana tells PA

Speaking to media representatives, the chief minister said that police culture was being revamped and soon positive changes would be visible.

Besides offering a job to the brother of the deceased girl, he announced a compensation of Rs500,000 for the victim’s family.

Provincial ministers Abdul Waheed Arrain and Haroon Sultan Bukhari, MNA Basit Sultan Bukhari, MPAs Qaswar Karim Langrial and Hamad Nawaz Tipo, IG Punjab Police Khan Baig, Additional IG Special Branch Muhammad Amleesh, Additional IG Investigations Khalid Dad Luck, Commissioner Sohail Shahzad, DCO Muzaffargarh Farasat Iqbal and party workers were also present on the occasion.

Pakistan

Girl was not raped, Sana tells PA

Rape victim who set herself ablaze dies

Shahid Khan

Mar 15, 2014 07:49pm

Very nice work by Chief Minister Punjab. Please revamp the police system and corruption, so that all Pakistanis feel safe and happy. This is the basic ingredients of a healthy and progressive society.

Recommend 0

gangadin

Mar 15, 2014 07:55pm

Well done. At least he reached out to the victim's family. A little late but still worth something.

Recommend 0

shaukat

Mar 15, 2014 08:00pm

You have got to hand it to the guy. No matter what anybody says, different party members will be quick to call this a publicity stunt, the CM punjab himself went to the victims house. He fired the utterly incompetent police officers, and gave the family monetary help and promised to investigate the matter. They are doing good things in Punjab and its visible for all to see. Other provincial governments should follow suit in a similar manner.

Recommend 0

Zaki

Mar 15, 2014 08:02pm

About time, we should start hanging these thugs now. CM sindh should take lessons from this.

Recommend 0

Anon

Mar 15, 2014 08:05pm

@ Shahid Khan Agreed but what about the hudood law which makes it impossible for the rapists to be convicted. It is a great injustice against women and we cannot tackle this problem without changing the legislation. It amazes me how so many of us Pakistanis completely ignore this crime against women which perpetuates rape and is committed by the state itself. It is due time that the state stops being black mailed by bearded mullahs and establishes it's writ.

Recommend 0

Shahbuddin

Mar 15, 2014 08:10pm

The girl had to sacrifice herself to move the government for justice. What a pathetic society and bureaucracy?

Recommend 0

syed

Mar 15, 2014 08:24pm

complete circus ..

Recommend 0

Umar Hayat

Mar 15, 2014 09:05pm

What surprises me the most is that nobody is mentioning the names and the faces of the culprits. These criminals seem to be very powerful. It gives me an impression that media is fooling the people or being fooled.

Recommend 0

Adam

Mar 15, 2014 09:22pm

@Anon, the perpetrator was not acquitted in an Islamic court; then what is the point of blaming the sharia law here? You folks sure don't miss a chance to give your unwanted remarks here and there, and not because you care about the mater but only to hurt. You and the likes of you are so pathetic.

Recommend 0

Masoud

Mar 15, 2014 10:03pm

It would have been a milestone if the Punjab CM also ordered to re arrest the freed culprits. Unless very severe punishment is given to such criminals committing the life destroying crimes against women or girls such thing as rape etc etc will continue to take place. The only deterrent to such crimes is severe punishment to the criminals & all collaborators.

Recommend 0

Syed

Mar 15, 2014 10:23pm

One thing that is probably misunderstood about the hudood law is that four witnesses requirement is only maximum punishment (death penalty), even this is not according to islamic law, lesser punishment do not require four witnesses. four witnesses is needed when a person is accusing a non-married couple of sex outside marriage

Recommend 0

asif

Mar 15, 2014 11:35pm

This unfortunate incident happened in the month of Jan this year. Were our leaders asleep? Punjab minister Mr.Shahbaz was busy in celebrating so-called Youth festival. However, its not too late yet. but if Mian Shahbaz fails to bring those real culprits along with those police men, (only suspension wont do now) than there will be a big question mark on this government who claim to give full right to the poors.

Recommend 0

Sufi Mateen

Mar 16, 2014 03:28am

Too little, too late..... You must suspend Rana Sana before going after little guys. Your own minister said the girl was not raped. This show of mercy to victim's family is just a political show Mr. CM. We need to see real actions.

Recommend 0

SaeedS

Mar 16, 2014 03:57am

What are the names of accuser and there pictures , why media saving them?

Recommend 0

bilal

Mar 16, 2014 06:24am

Damage control... ! Will Punjabi and Sindhi CM bother spending some resources on police and judicial system updates? Or continue using them for their own purpose. The silly people praising the CM do not realize that all these police officials are selected by him (or his interior /law minister).

Recommend 0

Yousuf

Mar 16, 2014 06:26am

Too late! These actions can't bring back the victim and there are still no actions against the rapists. So many senior ministers and senior police officials visiting the family of rape victim to gain publicity when they can actually spend some time on field and take some preventive actions against these kind of incidents which are happening almost daily. Put ourselves in the shoes of an immediate family member of the rape victim - can these actions be called justice? Not at all.

Recommend 0

Bilal

Mar 16, 2014 06:50am

This is the 100th time I am seeing Shabaz Sahreef making a visit to reach the rape victims and touching their foreheads with his palm. Although it is a good gesture, but says a lot about this personality. Nevertheless, he hasn't really taken any stand against rape, firing policemen will not stop rape incidents automatically. More work is needed.

Recommend 0

mohsin

Mar 16, 2014 08:24am

Too little too late Mr ShowBaaz !

Recommend 0

Najma

Mar 16, 2014 08:56am

If I were the parents of the deceased girl I would not even touch the CM with a 9 feet pole. There is no such thing as a nice gesture. Who gave the right to CM to touch the forehead of the woman in the picture. There are no human rights in the cattle farm know as Pakistan. True savages and land of blind slaves

Recommend 0

Anon

Mar 16, 2014 09:18am

@ Adam Are you denying that the hudood law is responsible for numerous releases of rapists who have been proven to be guilty by DNA tests? It is your kind who come forward to defend these rapists because the requirement for four witnesses is not fulfilled and that causes a lot of hurt for the victims. Try and comprehend the argument and think about it rationally instead of making judgments about my intentions

Recommend 0

khanm

Mar 16, 2014 01:02pm

I am confused as ever

Recommend 0

usman

Mar 16, 2014 01:43pm

India dealt with Delhi gang rape by expanding the definition of rape and bringing with its ambit every act of sexual violence,Pakistan dealt with Muzaffargarh gang rape by suspending some lowly cops & paying hush money to heirs of the victim, in front of TV cameras. Admittedly,no one knows quick fixes better than noora government of PML-N

Recommend 0

Remo

Mar 16, 2014 04:49pm

accusing police officers and suspending them has become the favorite job of Mr. CM. it does not seem to be the solution. make Laws and educate your people to follow them.

Recommend 0

PakistanRocks

Mar 17, 2014 07:17pm

Dear Mr CM! Want to oblige people who voted you? Then take out all the rape cases and punish the culprits so that other Amna(s) can be saved. The girl who set herself ablaze was not a girl she was representing helplessness of thousands of others. She did it just to bring to your kind attention that when you are done with making the largest human flag, please have a look at these "non issues" as well. Your women and daughters are safe but these are also daughters of people who are paying taxes for salaries of security staff of your daughters and women!

Recommend 0

FAM

Mar 18, 2014 03:30am

@Sufi Mateen: Exactly, easy to suspend some police officers, what does the CM plan to do about the law (ha!) minister, who is a leading light in his PML.

Recommend 0