24 rounded up for assaulting, harassing TikToker: Mazari

SHO, DSP suspended over negligence as Punjab IG forms three-member inquiry team

LAHORE:

Police have taken at least 24 men into custody for harassing and assaulting a TikToker at the Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore on August 14, said Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari on Friday.

In a complaint lodged with the Lari Adda police station, the assault survivor said that she was filming a video near Minar-e-Pakistan on August 14 along with her friends when a mob of around 400 people attacked them.

In a tweet on Friday, the federal minister said that the arrests were made after the suspects were identified through geo-fencing and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

In a post on Twitter, the minister said more arrests are expected on Friday in connection with the “condemnable” incident.

MoHR following with Punjab police on the condemnable Minar-i-Pakistan Lahore incident. So far 24 men were arrested through geo fencing & NADRA match. More arrests are expected today. On issue of police negligence/failure IG ordered inquiry is underway by Add IG.

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) August 20, 2021

 

She said a police inquiry headed by additional IG was also underway against the alleged negligence of police officers in the assault case.

SHO, DSP suspended

Meanwhile, Punjab Police chief Inaam Ghani suspended the Larri Adda police station SHO Muhammad Jamil and DSP Usman Haider, Badami Bagh SDPO, as he ordered an inquiry into the incident pertaining to an assault on a female TikToker by an at least 400-strong mob.

Along with removing the SHO and DSP, the IGP also transferred SSP Operations Nadeem Abbas and Additional SP City Hassan Jahangir and asked them to report to the Central Police Office immediately.

The suspended police officials were found guilty of negligence.

Meanwhile, a three-member inquiry team formed on the orders of the chief minister will look into the incident, particularly the delay in the registration of the FIR. The inquiry team will also evaluate the quality of the police's helpline (15) response.

Read Mob assault on TikToker triggers national outrage

Assault on TikToker

The female TikToker in the FIR said that the mob picked her up and started tossing her in the air. “I was stripped and my clothes were torn apart,” she had said in the FIR. The victim while narrating her ordeal had said she cried for help but no one came to her rescue.

She had also complained that her gold ornaments, cash and mobile phone were also snatched by the mob.

Two days ago, non-bailable clauses were added to the FIR against the culprits who assaulted the woman, Punjab CM’s focal person Azhar Mashwani informed.

“Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has ordered the arrest of the culprits as soon as possible,” he added.