Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. PHOTO: INP/FILE
“Half of the crimes being committed could be prevented if the police remained vigilant and alert,” Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said during his visit to a rape victim on Tuesday.
The chief minister said that the police had committed grievous negligence regarding the tragic incident at Sahiwal. He said stern action would be taken against the negligent officials and directed the district police officer to arrest the men involved in the heinous crime in 48 hours.
Shahbaz Sharif spoke to media persons after sympathising with the aggrieved family of a gang-rape victim in Fatehsher (81/5R) village in Sahiwal. He expressed sorrow that the police had ignored the matter for a month and a half while the rapists roamed free.
“There is no room in the Punjab Police for officials who do not stay abreast of such crimes in their areas,” he said.
The chief minister issued suspension orders for the relevant deputy superintendent and the station house officer and ordered departmental action against them for dereliction of duty.
“What kind of a system do we have that cannot provide protection to an innocent girl without a father or brother,” the chief minister asked the inspector general of police who was also present on the occasion. “May be it was better for people in the old days when police officers patrolled far flung areas on horseback,” he said. “Our Police Department has fast cars, jeeps and modern weapons but news of such crimes was a daily occurrence that travelled through the media faster.”
He said the level of negligence shown in the matter was evidence that the system was clearly not functioning the way it should. “The police have shown extreme callousness to a daughter.”
The chief minister has given the police two days to arrest the men accused of raping the girl.
He said the matter would be tried in an anti-terrorism court.
He also ordered the police to ensure security for the aggrieved family. Shahbaz Sharif told the victim that the government would make arrangements for her education and other needs.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2014.
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And what will happen after 2 days? This is pakistan. Nothing will happen.