Punjab CM orders arrest of Muzaffargarh policemen

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday ordered the arrest of three policemen and suspension of another for conducting a faulty investigation and making a mockery of justice in the case of an alleged rape victim, who had immolated herself on Friday before a police station in Muzaffargarh.

The decision was made after the provincial chief minister reviewed details of the case and offered condolences to the family of the deceased.

CM Shahbaz ordered the immediate arrest of Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP) Muzaffargarh Chaudhry Asghar, Bait Mir Hazaar’s Station House Officer (SHO) Idrees and Investigation Officer Rana Zulfiqar.

He also issued orders for immediate suspension of District Police Officer (DPO) Muzaffargarh Usman Akram Gondal and made Regional Police Officer (RPO) Dera Ghazi Khan Abdul Qadir Qayyum as Officer on Special Duty (OSD)

“Why was timely action not taken after this incident?  Why were necessary tests not conducted from the forensic science laboratory? What action was taken against Investigation Officer?” the CM angrily asked the DPO Muzaffargarh.

Shahbaz also reprimanded the Inspector General Punjab (IGP) and Additional IG Investigation for the negligence of police in not providing justice to the female student.

“This tragic incident is the worst example of injustice. The police have violated the law. Why were the investigation officer, the SHO and the DSP not arrested?” the CM asked.

Earlier, the CM went to the house of deceased student A* at Basti Lundi Pitafi, in Muzaffargarh’s Jatoi tehsil and condoled with the bereaved family.

Shahbaz gave a cheque for Rs 500,000 to the mother of the victim and announced that her brother would be given a job. The CM also met with the relatives of the deceased and assured that justice would be provided to the affected family and the officials, who committed negligence, would not escape punishment.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2014.