Traders in ‘women torture’ case granted bail

Police repeal provisions of Section A354, which carries death penalty

CHAK JHUMRA:

The court has ordered release on bail of five traders arrested a month ago for allegedly robbing and torturing women who had entered an electric store to steal and stripping them naked.

Four days ago, Millat Town Police had removed the provisions of A354 imposed in the case and handed over the case to the court. The court granted bail after hearing the arguments of the lawyers. According to details, a month ago, five women, who were collecting paper in Saddam Ahmad's electric store in Bawa Chak area of Millat Town police station, entered the shop intending to steal and attempted to steal some goods.

Meanwhile, the shop owner Saddam and his employees Zaheer, Faqir, Faisal and Yousuf captured the women and allegedly tore their clothes while being tortured.

After the video went viral on social media, former CPO Dr Abid reached the spot, arrested the accused traders and registered case No. 2064/21 Crime 354A-509-147-149 TP.

The relatives of the five traders arrested in the case provided video to the police through CCTV cameras inside and outside the shop in which the nomadic women were tearing their clothes to save their lives.

After collecting evidence from the police, they were sent to Lahore for forensics.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered against five women for breaking into a shop by Saddam's brother, a businessman, after which the women disappeared. After the issue of violence against women came up in the media, the Punjab chief minister and IG took notice of the matter and ordered an inquiry into it.

The police had handed over the case to the court four days ago, repealing the provisions of Section A354, which carries the death penalty, in the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2022.