MULTAN, Oct 28: Activists of several non-governmental organizations staged a protest demonstration against the alleged police highhandedness here on Thursday.

Dozens of protesters representing Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Pattan Development Organization, Awaz Foundation and SPO (strengthening participatory organization) gathered outside the local press club to condemn gang-rape of a woman allegedly by some policemen.

The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against police and growing trend of violence against women among the men in uniform especially in Multan. They demanded a judicial probe against the police atrocities in Multan.

A married woman and her sister were allegedly kidnapped by constable Shaukat and his three accomplices on Tuesday afternoon in the limits of New Multan police station. The kidnappers took the women to a house near Pul Baqirabad and gang-raped one of them. Medical examination at the Nishter Hospital on Wednesday confirmed that she was tortured.

The NMPS police had rounded up accused Shaukat but they have not so far bothered to apply for his remand to the area court to put him to interrogation for the crime he was charged with. We were investigating veracity of the allegation, replied a duty officer at the NMPS when contacted to ascertain that why did not the police obtain remand of the accused.

Shaukat was a constable/driver at the Old Kotwali police station.

It may be added here that few months ago two street singers were kidnapped and gang-raped allegedly by six men. The victims had alleged that they were abducted in a police mobile and that four of the perpetrators were in police uniform. However, the police had challaned only two civilians claiming that only they were involved in the crime.