BAHAWALPUR, July 22: The women took out a rally on Monday to press for their demand of trial of three accused involved in sodomy-cum-murder case of an 8th class student by the anti-terrorism court.

The rally was jointly organized by the Jamaat-i-Islami, JUP and Bahawalpur chapter of the human rights commission of Pakistan.

Starting from Shaheed Park, the participants culminated their rally before the offices of the DIG and SSP. The mother of deceased Sharjeel Akhtar led the rally.

The protesters were also holding placards inscribed with slogans demanding accused’s trial by the ATC, their public hanging and special arrangements for children’s security.

The delegation comprising JI district amir Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar, JUP Riaz Chughtai, district Zakat and Ushr chairman Sheikh Shujaullah and HRCP’s Jam Bashir met DIG Altaf Qamar and SSP Sikandar Hayat in their offices and apprised them of the demands of women participants.

The officials informed the delegation that all three culprits had already been arrested and assured them that they would be taken to task.

Shakir, Shafqat and Nazim had allegedly sodomized Sharjeel Akhtar and later murdered him a week ago. All the arrested accused had already made a clean breast of their crime. They have been sent to the New Central Jail on judicial remand. Dawn learnt that their challan would likely to be submitted to court on Tuesday (today).

PROTEST: Local lecturers and professors at a meeting here on Monday protested against the government policy of denationalizing educational institutions.

The meeting through a resolution urged the government to withdraw the decision.