Express News screengrab of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visiting the family of the rape victim who set herself on fire in Muzaffargarh.
MUZAFARGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced Rs0.5 million for the family of the rape victim who set herself on fire in Muzaffargarh, Express News reported on Saturday.
The girl had set herself on fire on March 13 in front of the Mir Hazar Khan police station after hearing that the suspects who had allegedly raped her were granted bail. With 70% of her body burnt, the girl succumbed to her injuries on March 14 in the hospital.
Shahbaz had taken notice of the incident earlier and had directed the authorities concerned to submit a report.
Today, the Punjab chief minister visited the family of the victim in Muzaffargarh and assured them that those responsible for the tragedy will be held accountable. He also said that he will do everything he can to give her justice.
While speaking to the media, Shahbaz said that the investigating officer Rana Zulfiqar had done great injustice, further stating that the incident was "a slap and a stain on humanity."
Shahbaz also ordered IG Punjab Khan Baig to arrest the suspects as soon as possible.
He suspended District Police Officer (DPO) Muzaffargarh Usman Akram Gondal and reprimanded Regional Police Officer (RPO) Abdul Qadir Qayyum.
The Punjab chief minister also ordered that the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Chaudhry Asghar, the investigating officer and the SHO be arrested.
The father of the deceased, while speaking to Shahbaz, claimed that the investigating officer took Rs70,000 as a bribe and then declared the suspected rapists innocent and released them on bail.
The mother of the victim also threatened to set herself on fire if justice did not prevail.
COMMENTS (34)
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Does this half a million paid out of Government funds collected from tax payers and lenders absolve Shahbaz of his responsibility and helps him sleep better at night ?
This man and his family has been ruling Punjab for almost 3 decades. But they have not changed system. Every now and then we see him putting his hand on the victims or their relatives head and announcing some money to calm them down. Their voters are happy with just a metro bus which shows how capable we are to take destiny into our own hands. PML N has very wisely read the mind set of a common Punjab resident and playing with them successfully.
This CM is using media for his publicity and instead of taking blame upon himslef and resigning with shame from his post, he is simply tranferring the blame on others and showing he is a hero himslef. He probably spent more than 5 lakh on his helicopter fuel than the price of a life in his mind.
Why it is not said that 'Punjab Govt announces compensation money to the victim" instead of 'Shahbaz Sharif' giving money, as if it were given from their personal kitty.
what were people doing there including media people? Just taking pictures for a breaking news, what if she was your own sister? No body helped her until she was 70p% burnt. Salute you public friendly grievers. What a performance. Shame on you calling yourselves human? Muslims? Pakistanis?
@MK: because Punjab is the only province where newsmen are free from local influence, unlike Sindh & to some extent Balochistan where a local wadera controls everything including what is to be reported and what is not to be reported.
why no military operation against criminals in Punjab?
Total collapse of the state, society, and the government. Complete moral bankruptcy and insensitivity of the people higher in the food chain.
Chief minster should have checked with his Law minster.
shahbash CM shahbaz Sahib you participated with the family in this great tragedy, gave financial assistant to bereaved family, issued on the spot orders for arrest of the culprit accused and neglected and corrupted police official. Now please bring the accused to justice as soon as possible. you are also rein and bridle the mouth of your law minister sanaullah alias sultan rahi to do understand his duty and get infamous corrupt Punjab police. You done your duty excellently.Please note the threat of self immolation by the mother of her late daughter if justice was not done to culprits.
So if you are raped, and then have the get to burn yourself alive, your are worth just USD 5,000. Case closed!
people don't self immolate just like that .It means she was right and felt dejected when betrayed by system.
I wish CM should have gone to the judge who have granted bail to the accused.
Unleash special branch, find the perpetrators and just put them to rest. Justice served and expense saved.
Throwing money is not going to solve anything.
Shahbaz Sharif sb, put yourself in the shoes of that girls parents and then tell me; '500,000 is what you would want after such an incident'?
99 percent of rapes happening in one province and it's getting worst by the day - Hello..!!
Why don't they understand there's no price of a human life and its honour? Why don't we have stricter laws and their implementation? I feel sorry for the girl and all such men and women who face injustice in Pakistan. May Allah save our country.
May Allah bless her soul , Ameen - family should kindly return the check , no amount of money can heal their wounds let alone a ridicules 500,000 rupees - it seems if 500,000 is the official value of human life in Pakistan.
So the fire alarm woke our CM sahib up.