TOBA TEK SINGH: Scores of people, including the family members and relatives of the deceased first-year student, Eshal Fatima, who died at the district headquarters (DHQ) hospital under mysterious circumstances, after being allegedly raped by three suspects, took out a rally and staged a protest demo outside the office of Jhang district police officer (DPO) on Monday.

The protesters, carrying banners and placards, were chanting slogans against police and DHQ hospital doctors, accusing them of bias and negligence. They alleged that facts of the case were being distorted under the pressure of some local political figures.

They urged Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to immediately intervene and order a transparent and impartial investigation into the matter by an independent agency.

Several members of civil society also joined the protest, expressing serious concern over the handling of the case.

They also alleged that instead of collecting solid evidence against the nominated suspects, who had allegedly abducted, tortured and then abandoned the victim in critical condition at a hospital, the police exerted pressure on the victim’s family to favour the “culprits”.

They also accused two ex-MPAs of the ruling party -- Sheikh Yaqub and his wife Ms Rashida Yaqub -- for backing the suspects.

They alleged that the initial medical report grossly misrepresented the facts, and was deliberately shared on social media to create confusion.

Expressing their mistrust of the investigation team constituted by the DPO, the protesters said the police’s conduct remained questionable from the registration of the FIR.

The protesters’ sit-in on the main road outside the DPO office ended peacefully following negotiations conducted by local legal and social figures.

Meanwhile, DPO Sajid Hussain, in a media briefing, assured the victim’s family that the investigation is being conducted on merit.

He said that a 10-member special investigation team has already been formed, and charges, including those of rape and murder, have been added to the FIR as per the demand of the victim’s family.

He urged people to refrain from spreading unverified information about the case on social media.

Meanwhile, ex-MPA Rashida Yaqub said in a video statement that she and her husband could not even think of supporting murderers of Eshal Fatima.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2026