LAHORE, July 3: The Supreme Court has summoned the Inspector-General of Punjab Police to appear on Friday and apprise it of the action taken against the culprits involved in the gang-rape of a teenaged girl as punishment for her brother’s alleged liaison with a girl of a rival clan.

Taking suo motu notice of the incident at Jhugiwala (Meerwala), Jatoi tehsil, Muzaffargarh district, under the court’s human rights jurisdiction, Chief Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmad also summoned the advocate-general and three other police officials along with the record.

The CJ said in his order:

“According to a news item, a teenaged girl was subjected to gang rape by four persons and made to return home without clothes in pursuance of a panchayet (jirga) verdict. This is a shocking incident in the 21st century concerning blatant violation of human rights as well as human dignity. Therefore, taking suo motu notice I would direct the inspector general of police, the deputy inspector-general of police, Multan Range, the district police officer, Muzaffargarh, and the SHO concerned to appear in this court on 5th July, 2002, along with the relevant record to apprise this court about the action taken by them in this case. The advocate-general shall also appear on the said date.”