Following the motorway gang rape incident, the Punjab government has decided to interlink emergency helplines of Motorway Police, Punjab Highway Patrol and Police Emergency to reduce response time.
This decision was made during a high-level meeting, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar to review progress in investigation of the motorway incident, held on Saturday. The meeting decided to interconnect Punjab Highway Patrol Helpline 1124 and Motorway Police Helpline 130 with Punjab Police Emergency Helpline 15. The decision is aimed to improve police response time in an emergency as in the motorway incident the victim had to wait for over an hour to get police help and in the meantime, the assault happened. The meeting participants were told that when a complaint was received on motorway helpline the victim was asked to contact the FWO helpline and then the local police. However, after the interconnection of helplines, the police response is expected to improve at motorways and highways.
During the meeting, the chief minister ordered the Punjab Police to perform its duties till the deployment of Motorway Police on Lahore-Sialkot Motorway. On which it was highlighted that Punjab Highway Patrolling, Special Protection Unit and Elite Force have been deployed on Lahore-Sialkot Motorway. The 91-kilometre long route has been divided into three beats.
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Buzdar also directed the investigation teams to complete the investigation in minimum possible time as it was the state’s responsibility to ensure immediate justice to the affected woman. The government would fulfil this responsibility and the accused involved in the incident would not escape from justice, he added.
He said, “I am personally monitoring progress on the case and will not relax until justice will be provided to the affected family. The Punjab government and the whole nation are with the affected family. Every Pakistani is heartbroken over the tragic incident.”
The additional chief secretary (home) informed the meeting participants that the culprits had been identified.
Provincial Law Minister Basharat Raja, Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, the chief secretary, inspector general of police, additional chief secretary (home) and other officials concerned attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, civil society representatives continued their protests against the incident and an irresponsible statement of the Lahore CCPO. They demanded removal of the capital city police chief and hanging of criminals.
A large number of citizens gathered at Liberty Market to register their protest. They were holding banners and placards.
Speaking to the media, several citizens questioned why police did not take action against the suspects when several cases were already registered against them. A woman, Naheed Ahmad, said the city police and Punjab chief minister were claiming that they have identified both criminals in less than 72 hours.
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“That is the point in making such statements. The government and police should tell the citizens what they were doing since 2013 when the first case was reported against the men,” she asked.
Another protester, Asif Bhatti, said if exemplary punishment was awarded to the rapists in the first instance, another woman would not have to suffer such agony.
Similar remarks were made by several other citizens and strong criticism continued on social media too. Several social media users underlined the need for self-defence training, especially for women and children.
Published in The Express Tribune, Septe0mber 13th, 2020.
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