Punjab police have arrested the prime suspect of the motorway gang-rape case, ARY has reported citing sources; but the claim has been dismissed by the senior-most police officer of Punjab as well as Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s aide Dr Shahbaz Gill.
According to reports, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Inam Ghani has dismissed reports that a suspect in the Lahore motorway rape case had been arrested, terming them as incorrect.
“News on the arrest of a suspect on TV channels and social media are incorrect,” said IGP Ghani, adding that he would share any development in the case with media as he was monitoring the investigation himself.
“Such unconfirmed news affects the case and is also misleading for the public,” said the top cop.
He also said that pictures of the woman and the suspects being shared on social media were fake, and urged media to not run reports before confirming them. “We will soon arrest the accused and bring them to justice,” Ghani vowed.
Earlier, ARY cited Punjab government sources as saying that search for the second suspect involved in the gang-rape was underway.
The claim was, however, also dismissed by Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill, who said it was incorrect but the police were working hard.
Child protection NGO Sahil, in a reportCruel Number released on Thursday, revealed that at least 173 children were gang-raped in Pakistan in the first six months of 2020, whereas there were 227 reports of attempted sexual assault.
According to the report, 38 children were killed after they were sexually abused. More than eight children were subjected to sexual abuse on average every day in the first six months of 2020 in Pakistan.
Sahil reported that as of June this year, 497 children were sexually abused. 57% of cases were reported in Punjab, 32% were reported in Sindh and 6% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The report further said that more than 35 cases were reported in Islamabad, 22 in Balochistan, 10 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and one in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Out of the total reported cases, 62% were from rural areas and 38% reported from urban areas. Of the total children who were victims of sexual abuse, 53% were girls and 47% boys.
Sahil also highlighted that 51 cases of underage marriage were reported.
The results were taken from 84 newspapers and cases reported in all four provinces, the capital city, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
At least 14 members of the country’s Hindu minority community returned from India after six months, saying their dreams of better economic prospects in the neighboring country had been shattered, Anadolu Agency reported.
Speaking to reporters at the Wagah border crossing, Kanhaya Lal and Nanak Ram, the heads of the families, said they went to India hoping for better economic prospects, but it was a “farce” and they suffered great hardships.
India recently passed a contentious law allowing Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Christians from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to apply for fast-track citizenship.
Last month, a family of 11 Hindus, migrated from Pakistan, was found dead in a rented farmhouse in the city of Jodhpur in India’s Rajasthan state.
The daughter of one Budha Ram, who was among those killed, had registered a case with Shahdadpur police station, accusing India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) for the crime. The first information report (FIR) revealed Ram had decided to return to Pakistan to expose spy traps offered by the Indian spy agency.
“I knew that family, and most of them were educated. But there are no opportunities for any outsiders in India,” Lal told Anadolu Agency.
“The fact is they were living in miserable conditions and suffered from extreme poverty and there were dangerous threats to their lives,” Lal said.
He said more than 28,000 Pakistan Hindus are stranded in Jodhpur waiting to return home.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has ordered an immediate ban on ARY Digital’s ongoing drama Jalan, saying that the content of the drama goes against the “social and moral ethics of Pakistani society”.
In a notification, PEMRA said that the content of Jalan goes against the values of the Pakistani society and that viewers and audiences have been strongly criticising the drama and its storyline. It further said that the channel and the drama’s makers had been repeatedly told to modify the script and content of the drama and bring it in line with Pakistani morals and ethics. But because they did not comply with PEMRA’s order and ignored its warnings, the regulatory body had no choice but to ban the drama under Section 27 of the PEMRA Ordinance.
Jalan is about two sisters Nisha (Minal Khan) and Misha (Areeba Habib). While Misha is the sweet and obedient sister, Nisha is a spoiled brat and wants to be better than her sister, so she sets her sights on her brother-in-law Asfandyar (Emmad Irfani) because he’s rich and good-looking. Ignoring the fact that her sister is married to Asfandyar, Nisha openly flirts with him and urges him to divorce his pregnant wife. Despite, its convoluted and twisted storyline, the drama trends on TV and social media every week.
Earlier, in a notice issued on September 4, PEMRA had directed ARY Digital and the makers of Jalan to review its content and script and modify it in accordance with Pakistani values.
In the press release, the media regulatory body said that it has been getting multiple complaints regarding the drama, its content and script through the Pakistan Citizens Portal, PEMRA social media accounts, and PEMRA call centres. It added that the content of the drama, especially the main storyline, is being strongly criticised by audiences on social media.
“Audiences have strongly criticised the drama saying that it has made a mockery of sacred relationships,” the notification had read.
PEMRA had also requested all stakeholders, including TV channels and production houses, to immediately review the content of their future dramas.
“Regardless of the cost and time invested in the drama, if the content of a play is against national values and expectations of the audience, the play will be banned without any warning,” stated the press release.
While the lead cast and makers of the drama have yet to respond to the ban, Fahad Sheikh who plays Ahmer in the drama, expressed his disappointment over the decision.
Mahira Khan and Mehwish Hayat, among other celebrities have condemned the brutal gang-rape of a mother of two and have demanded for the mindset to be changed.
Mehwish Hayat, in a tweet said: “Scream all you want about ‘Public Hanging of Rapists’ – nothing will happen till the mindset changes.”
How come in Singapore women are safe to walk home alone even at 4am?Why can’t we have the same sense of security here?! Are we living in a civilised society or a jungle?Scream all you want abt #PublicHangingOfRapists -nothing will happen till the mindset changes!#motorwayincidenthttps://t.co/Mfl4h8bfcN
Similarly, sharing a quote by Manto, Mahira said: “Hang them! Kill them! Publicly shame them! – It won’t change a thing. The problem is so deeply ingrained within our society, so deep-rooted, that even the officer said: ‘She shouldn’t have left at that time. This is the way our society is’.”
“Why should we accept this mindset? Why should we question the victim yet again and not the those who commit the crime?” she questioned.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CE9oF91hAcc/
On Tuesday night, two robbers reportedly gang-raped a mother of two on the Motorway within Gujjarpura police’s jurisdiction. The woman, along with her two children, was driving to Gujranwala in her car when she was forced to stop at the Gujjarpura section of the Motorway after running out of fuel at around 1:30 am. She immediately called a relative and sent him her location. He asked her to also dial the Motorway Police helpline 130 but she was reportedly refused help.
In the meantime, two robbers approached the car, broke the window and took the woman and her children to nearby bushes where they raped her repeatedly in front of the children. They also snatched her purse that had cash around Rs100,000, one bracelet, car registration and three ATM cards.
The Gujjarpura police have registered a case, while the motorway police spokesperson said they had not been able to take action as the incident did not occur in the limits of Motorway Police.
The incident, followed by Lahore’s new Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Umar Sheikh’s comments have sparked outrage nationwide. According to details, the CCPO said: “I am shocked… you are a mother of three and the only driver late at night… [she] should have taken the GT [Grand Trunk] Road instead, which is densely populated.”
Sheikh went on to say that the woman should “at least have checked her fuel before taking the motorway”.
Humayun Saeed said that he was “shocked beyond belief and extremely distressed to learn about this incident.”
Shocked beyond belief and extremely distressed to learn about this incident https://t.co/R2kj6L3N9M
Ayesha Omar talked about how she didn’t even feel safe in her own country.
Why are men so shocked about what happened yesterday? Is the first time someone was raped and then blamed for it? This is the reality of our country. Woman are on their own. We are not safe on the streets, in markets, in our cars, in our homes or in our graves. #motorwayincident
Mansha Pasha and Hareem Farooq said that the victim is not to be blamed.
The first crime is committed by the rapist. The second by those who blame the woman. The third by the officials who do nothing. And the fourth by those who say nothing.
Adnan Siddiqui and Sarwat Gilani expressed their shock over the incident.
“My head hangs in shame. I am really sorry,” wrote Adnan.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CE9njPrBFbL/
“It’s heartbreaking, blood boiling and extremely sad to see this news,” said Sarwat.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CE9EgItj7pp/
Several celebrities including Feroze Khan, Mawra Hocane, Aijaz Aslam, Faysal Quraishi, Asim Azhar, Yumna Zaidi, Minal Khan, Sarah Khan and Ali Rehman Khan called for the public hanging of rapists.
Feroze urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to take swift action and not let down his voters.
– I have major hope in you … this is the time you can do it please I beg you it’s the little that needs attention the big will all fall in place it self. Please help the voiceless please help the weak please kill the monsters @ImranKhanPTI
– I will always count on your statement that Pakistan will be “Riasat e Madina” and if you don’t hang these monsters raping and killing children and women in the open nothing can ever be changed … just make one example. Public execution is what I demand @ImranKhanPTI
Cycling karti howi larki sey tharak ..aurat ka gang rape 5 saal ki bachi k sath ziyadti ..and the result is 0 …latkao ayese kutton ko chock pe had hogai hey
Until a strict action is taken May it be for corruption or rape this country ain’t going no where . #imrankhanPTI at least hang the rapists of little children for gods sake . What kind of riasat is this ?
Rape incidents unfortunately poori dunya me hotey hain but insaaf milta h speed trials hotey hain punishments milti hain unfortunately our slow and outdated Justice system gives confidence to these sick criminals, change the law !#PublicHangingOfRapists#motorwayincident
I remember while shooting ‘Verna’ I’d question Shoaib Saab, how is it possible that someone can walk into a park and pick up a girl and rape her in broad daylight. It sounds impossible. His response was “Hota Raha hai, ho sakta hai aur hota rahay ga” ♂️ #HangRapists
Meanwhile, Sanam Saeed, Shaniera Akram and Ushna Shah felt that hanging is ‘nothing’ and an easy way out for the criminals.
A ‘public hanging’ is nothing. It is still a quick death. Jo darinday pakrey jayein unko eisee khaufnaak aur aziatnaak mot doh, key unki misaal sey baaqi darindoN key khatarnak zehen mein aurat ki izzat aur bachoN ki masoomiyat cheennay ka khayal tak na aye. Urging our judiciary!
Why hang them when we can castrate them? Why let them go so easily when they can live with the pain, shame and guilt without their genitals? Why wait to make this the law till God forbid it happens too close to home? No counseling or rehabilitation needed here. #cuttheirweapon.
Because death is too good for them.They should live a long life feeling the same pain that they caused others. By public hanging we are only deterring the problem not fixing it.There needs to be better systems to protect our women & children & weed out the offenders from society https://t.co/bNOckeRvnI
Osman Khalid Butt had similar thoughts and called for the system to be fixed.
Clearly even capital punishment did to deter future criminals. This country, its elected officials, our law enforcement agencies need to do their job in protecting women, minorities, even children from such crimes.
To everyone here claiming I’m sympathizing with rapists, calm the fuck down. All I’m asking is we need to push to fix the system. Punish all criminals (can’t believe I have to say this), but FIX the system. Your bloodlust is not a long-term solution, it is no answer to crime.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, who had until a few years earlier been strongly against dual nationals holding public offices, has now rejected criticism against his own team members holding dual nationalities, which has led to people calling it “another U-turn”.
“I don’t know why people say that dual nationals cannot get any public office and cannot become a minister and why they [people] move courts every other day,” Dawn quoted Imran as saying while launching the Roshan Pakistan Digital Account (RPDA).
وزیرِ اعظم عمران خان کا روشن ڈیجیٹل اکاؤنٹ کی افتتاحی تقریب سے خطاب
RPDA will provide innovative banking solutions to millions of non-resident Pakistanis seeking to undertake fund transfers, bill payments and investment activities in Pakistan.
Expressing displeasure over criticism of dual nationals holding public office, the premier stressed the need for tapping what he called “resource pool” of Pakistani experts and professionals living abroad for uplifting of the country.
“We do not have a bigger asset than that [overseas Pakistanis]. The best minds, professionals and entrepreneurs are outside the country. When we will create [conducive] conditions in the country, this big resource pool can return to the country,” he said, adding that when he established Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, it created an opportunity for overseas Pakistani experts and they returned to run the hospital.
His statements, however, were not very well received by Twitterati, who pointed out that Imran, back in opposition days, himself was strictly against the practice of handing public offices to dual nationals.
Here’s what they had to say:
“I don’t know why people say that dual nationals cannot get any public office and cannot become a minister and why they [people] move courts every other day.” – Imran Khan yesterdayhttps://t.co/BMoZWobrSZAlso Imran Khan: pic.twitter.com/BvBxcbdoUQ
Wow @ImranKhanPTI doesn’t feel embarrassed asking this question! “I don’t know why people say that dual nationals cannot get any public office and cannot become a minister and why they [people] move courts every other day,” the prime minister said. https://t.co/2nWyUAT5ZS
@ImranKhanPTI stance on dual nationals now and after.
It is unfortunate, this man has no values, principles. He vehemently campaigned against dual nationals and now questions those who don’t support dual nationals in the parliament. pic.twitter.com/IG3xZYlOwJ
The premier and members of his cabinet holding dual nationality recently came under severe criticism when the assets and status of dual nationality of all non-elected cabinet members — special assistants to the prime minister (SAPM) and advisers — were made public.
SAPM on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus resigned from her post due to the criticism levelled against her and the government because of her dual citizenship. In a tweet, Aidrus, who also holds Canadian nationality, had said, “Criticism levied towards the state as a consequence of my citizenship status is clouding the purpose of Digital Pakistan.”
Criticism levied towards the state as a consequence of my citizenship status is clouding the purpose of Digital Pakistan. In the greater public interest, I have submitted my resignation from the SAPM role. I will continue to serve my country and the PM’s vision to my best ability pic.twitter.com/BWBvBvO6uz
After Naumaan Ijaz received immense flak for his comments on cheating and infidelity, Atiqa Odho stepped in to defend her colleague and applauded him for knowing “how to get people’s attention”.
“My dear friend Naumaan,” wrote Atiqa on social media. “You really know how to get people’s attention! Trust you to joke about infidelity and people start to take it all so seriously.”
Referring to his wife, Rabia, Atiqa continued,” Hats off to my buddy Rabia for also laughing it off, knowing her husband loves to poke people’s imagination.”
“You are so naughty and entertaining,” added the actor. “Never a dull moment on and off-screen. Anyway, just keep smiling and exposing others’ petty mindedness.”
Atiqa closed the comments section on the post on Instagram and advised her followers to “look up the complete interview link and watch it to understand this clip”, adding that everyone is being very unfair by “jumping to conclusions and judging him”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CE7UAxxgY3z/
Earlier this week, an old interview of Naumaan’s went viral on social media in which the actor talks about cheating on his wife and getting away with it because he is such “a great actor”.
During the interview, when host Iffat Omar asked Naumaan the secret behind his successful marriage, Naumaan said that he is very lucky as far as his wife is concerned.
Iffat then remarked that artists are ‘aashiq mizaaj log‘ and asked Ijaz if he ever felt his heart waver, to which the actor replied, “Multiple times”.
“But then how do you control it; know your limits,” asked Iffat.
“I don’t control it,” laughed Naumaan in response. “I fall in love daily. I am a very loving person. If I come across a woman who is beautiful inside out and has a difficult personality, I fall in love with her.”
“Toh phir aap karletay hain ishq,” questioned Iffat.
“Main karleta hoon ishq,” said Naumaan, adding that his wife doesn’t find out because he is such “a great actor and an intelligent man.”
When Iffat probed further and asked about the reaction of those he gets involved with, Naumaan said that they know and reciprocate but their husbands don’t find out.
“I need to learn a few things from you,” chuckled Iffat in response.
Barrister Khadija Siddiqi, who was stabbed 23 times in broad daylight in Lahore, has reminded Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Umar Sheikh of what happened in her case, shutting him up for his statement blaming the motorway gang-rape survivor for travelling alone with her three kids past midnight.
“I was stabbed 23 times in broad daylight! Don’t tell us that ‘time’ is directly connected to the commission of offense!” she tweeted while also asking as to under what authority could the CCPO set “time limits” on women’s travel.
Ccpo claiming that in our society women/children arent allowed to go outside after 12:30 am! Who are you to set time limits for us? I was stabbed 23 times in broad daylight! Dont tell us that ‘time’ is directly connected to the commission of offence! #motorwayincidentpic.twitter.com/8z9ERuJ3Rc
The officer, who is also supposed to be leading the investigation of the motorway rape case, is being criticised for using language that tantamounts to victim-blaming.
“I am shocked… you are a mother of three and the only driver late at night… [she] should have taken the GT [Grand Trunk] Road instead, which is densely populated,” CCPO Sheikh had said while speaking to Dunya News.
He went on to say that the woman should “at least have checked her fuel before taking the motorway”.
THE INCIDENT:
On Tuesday night, it was reported that two robbers had gang-raped a mother of three on the Motorway within Gujjarpura police’s jurisdiction.
The woman, along with her three children, was driving to Gujranwala in her car when she was forced to stop at the Gujjarpura section of the Motorway after running out of fuel at around 1:30 am. She immediately called a relative and sent him her location. He asked her to also dial the Motorway Police helpline 130 but she was reportedly refused help.
In the meantime, two robbers approached the car, broke the window and took the woman and her children to nearby bushes where they raped her repeatedly in front of the children. They also snatched her purse that had cash around Rs100,000, one bracelet, car registration and three ATM cards.
The Gujjarpura police have registered a case, while motorway police spokesperson said they had not been able to take action as the incident did not occur in the limits of Motorway Police.
On Tuesday night, two robbers reportedly gang-raped a mother of two on the Motorway within Gujjarpura police’s jurisdiction. The incident has sparked outrage among the citizens, with people criticising the authorities and the police officials for not doing their job properly and “protecting us”. Countrywide protests are being organised to express solidarity with the victim and demand justice for her.
Lahore
#MotorwayIncident: A Protest for Justice
Date: 12th September, 2020 (Saturday)
Time: 05:00 PM
Venue: Liberty Round About
Peace Protest For Motorway Rape And Transgender Murders
