LAHORE: PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has deplored the PTI government’s ‘apathy’ towards motorway incident, saying it has given a clear message that it cannot give protection to women drivers especially those travelling at night.

“We want to ask the government us to tell as to why its spokesperson and ministers are supporting a tainted police officer (CCPO Umer Sheikh) who did the victim blaming,” she said in a series of tweets on Monday.

She said the government had given a message that it was not standing with the victim and this attitude would encourage the perpetrators. She said the incident not only sparked widespread anger but also terrorised women. “This is the first government in Pakistan’s history that is giving a message to the people not to depend on it regarding their protection and take measures on their own. The government also blames the victims in every such case,” she said.

Maryam Nawaz said in this country a [common] woman had to come out of the house for different reasons and by offering no protection to her the PTI government was telling to everyone that there was a ‘law of jungle.’

Meanwhile, the PML-N lawmakers and workers held a demonstration outside the press club to demand the shifting of Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Hamza Shahbaz to hospital.

Hamza, son of PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif, is suffering from coronavirus. He is currently lodged in Kot Lakhpat jail undergoing trial in a money laundering case instituted by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He had been showing symptoms of the disease for the past one week and tested positive for virus on Sept 12.

Led by MPA Rabia Farooqi, the protesters demanded that the government immediately shift Hamza to hospital so that he could be given proper medical treatment.

“This oppressive regime has been toying with the health of political opponents by keeping them in inhuman conditions. My brother Hamza Shahbaz Sharif is the latest victim of this brutality who has been tested positive for Covid-19 but not being given the required medical attention,” Maryam Nawaz said in a tweet.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2020