LAHORE: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has warned of taking to the streets if police fail to arrest culprits of the gang rape on the motorway within next two days.

In a statement on Thursday, JI emir Senator Sirajul Haq expressed anger and regret over the gang rape on the motorway, demanding the authorities arrest the rapists within 48 hours.

Quoting the official data, Mr Haq said over 10,000 cases of rape, gang rape, kidnap and abduction were registered only in Punjab from January 2020 to September 2020. The figures, he said, showed the horrifying situation of law and order in the biggest province of the country. The transfers and postings on a daily basis in addition to the already tainted image of police had badly damaged the already fragile performance of the force, he said, calling for bringing about reforms in the police structure. He said a law of jungle had prevailed in the country and a common citizen was not feeling safe.

PPP: The PPP has demanded action against the federal communication minister and Lahore police chief.

Party’s parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly Hassan Murtaza said the communication minister should be shown the door as Murad Saeed is [allegedly] linked with the horrendous incident of gang rape of a mother of three for failing to make security arrangements at new motorways.

“Murad Saeed must be brought to book at once. The motorists are being charged road use tax (toll tax) but are not being provided with basic facilities.”

The PPP leader also demanded sacking of Lahore Capital City Police Officer Sheikh Omar as the official, through his comments on a TV channel, held the victim woman responsible for her rape by traveling at midnight, taking a comparatively less used route and not checking fuel gauge of her car before setting off from Lahore to Gujranwala. The car stopped for want of fuel at a deserted place in Gujjarpura area in the suburbs of Lahore.

“Omar Sheikh insulted the humanity by holding the woman responsible for her rape. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ‘blue-eyed’ police officer embarrassed all through his comments,” he said, demanding Mr Sheikh should either resign or be removed from his post.

He also demanded investigation into the rape incident by a parliamentary committee.

PML & PML-Q: PML-N and PML-Q leaders have condemned the gang-rape of a woman on the motorway and demanded the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government bring the culprits to justice.

“Motorway was considered safe to travel. It is unsafe now only because of someone’s inefficiency. Law enforcement agencies must arrest the culprits and ensure exemplary punishment for them. This incident is highly condemnable,” PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif said.

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said: “The tragic rape incident on motorway is as traumatising and heart-rending for me as it is for the entire nation."

“This incident speaks of an alarming situation for Punjab and Motorway Police. The Punjab police should give more preference to their duty instead of indulging in fights for posts,” PML-Q MNA Moonis Elahi said.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2020