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Tag: Punjab police

  • EXCLUSIVE: Identity of motorway gang-rape suspect revealed

    EXCLUSIVE: Identity of motorway gang-rape suspect revealed

    With authorities’ failure to protect the mother of three, who was gang-raped on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway on Tuesday night, drawing a strong reaction from the masses, the police have revealed the identity of one of the suspects behind the gruesome incident that shook the nation.

    As per the details, the individual, namely Abid Ali and a resident of Haroonabad town of Punjab’s Bahawalnagar district, is a proclaimed offender and has been nominated in multiple cases earlier as well.

    While accomplice of the 27-year-old is still unidentified and both the suspects are at large, it has been announced that Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat will shortly address a press conference to share further details.

    Reports, however, have cited sources as saying that the name of Abid’s accomplice is Waqar.

    IDENTIFICATION:

    Earlier in the day, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) had announced that one of the culprits had been identified following DNA testing and will soon be apprehended.

    Taking to Twitter to share the news, Dr Gill had congratulated Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Inam Ghani, Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Umar Sheikh and the entire team.

    “DNA matched. The arrests will also soon be made. The people should know that Usman Buzdar, the IGP and the [Lahore] CCPO were in a meeting until 4 am. The CM himself has monitored the entire case,” he had tweeted.

    The tweet had followed a vaguely-worded tweet wherein Dr Gill said thanked Allah for his help and for listening to the prayers of the people.

    LAHORE-SIALKOT MOTORWAY RAPE CASE:

    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.

  • VIDEO: Police blame mother-of-three survivor for gang-rape, say ‘she should have taken GT Road’

    Lahore’s new Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Umar Sheikh, who was earlier this week blamed for the removal of Punjab’s fifth inspector general of police (IGP) in two years, has now made headlines for blaming a gang-rape victim for the incident.

    “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,” he said while speaking to Dunya News.

    Sheikh 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.

    PUBLIC REACTION:

    With the incident making headlines and medical reports confirming gang-rape, social media flooded with posts by the general public as well as political leaders in support of the survivor and against the authorities over their “continuous failure to protect the people”.

    Amid public outcry, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s aide on political communication, Dr Shahbaz Gill, said that on Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar’s directives, Lahore CCPO Umar Sheikh will lead the investigation.

    “Urban and rural policing techniques are being used,” he said, adding that CCTV footage and DNA matching was being used in the probe.”

    Dr Gill further said that around 12 suspects have been arrested.

    ‘POLICE DOING GREAT WORK’:

    Earlier, newly-appointed IGP Inam Ghani claimed that police have secured “evidence” that will lead them to the culprits.

    “We have done great work so far in the motorway rape case. We have located the village from which the suspects were from,” the IGP revealed in a conversation with Geo News. 

    He also shared that 20 police teams were working on the case and being overseen by a deputy inspector-general (DIG).

    Ghani shared that the survivor had provided ages and other identifying features of the suspects. “Right now, we have a very good clue which will lead us to the suspects directly. However, we cannot share it with the media yet.”

    He also shared that police have obtained the complete voter list and record from the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) of the area where the suspects are believed to have hailed from. 

    IG Ghani said that the woman’s children, who were forced to witness the horrific crime, were now with their family, who have been assured that they will be provided all kinds of support. He hoped that the victims of the attack would be in a much better state when the suspects are arrested.

  • IG Punjab removed after standoff with CCPO Lahore

    IG Punjab removed after standoff with CCPO Lahore

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Shoaib Dastagir has been removed after a standoff with Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Umar Sheikh. CCPO Lahore is accused of speaking against the IGP. Shoaib Dastagir will be the fifth IG to be changed in Punjab. Since 2008, Dr Syed Kaleem Imam, Muhammad Tahir, Amjad Javed Saleemi, Capt. (R) Arif Nawaz Khan and Shoaib Dastagir have served at the post of IG Punjab.

    Inam Ghani has been appointed as the new IGP, announced Special Assistant to PM on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill on Twitter. An official notification has also been issued.

    Inam Ghani appointed new IG Punjab

    According to reports, former IGP Dastagir got upset when CCPO Sheikh allegedly told his subordinates that on any sensitive issue, the Lahore police must seek his permission even if they receive directions from the Central Police Office (CPO).

    Also Read: ‘Will reform Punjab police first after assuming power’, vows Imran Khan

    As per a report published in Dawn, Dastagir met Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar on Monday and requested him for a “transfer to any other suitable place”, saying he would not continue as the provincial police chief until the removal of the CCPO. He is also said to have skipped office on Monday and met with the CM in plain clothes, giving the Punjab government the message that he would not accept Mr Sheikh as the CCPO at any cost.

    Shoaib Dastagir has now been posted as Secretary Narcotics Control Division according to an official notification.

    Dastagir transferred as Secretary Narcotics Control Division

    More details about differences between former IGP and CCPO in this video report:

  • What you need to know about viral video of lawyer who was kidnapped and tortured for a week

    DISCLAIMER: A picture of the survivor has been used while respecting her decision to come forward and making her voice heard

    A police team has been formed to probe the kidnapping and week-long torture of a woman lawyer, Advocate Irshad Nasreen, who was recovered from Mailsi, the district police officer (DPO) has said.

    The DPO, while formally announcing the woman’s recovery, said the special team, comprising the superintendent of police (SP) for investigation, Shamsul Haq, and two deputy superintendents of police (DSPs), was tasked with searching for and arresting the kidnappers.

    The police officer noted that a FIR [First Information Report] — including charges of kidnapping — was registered on behalf of the woman’s son on August 22.

    The special team was investigating the case in light of her recorded statement, Geo quoted the cop as saying.

    The woman has been shifted to the Dipalpur Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital, the police officer said.

    A resident of Dipalpur, police had earlier told media that Nasreen was recovered in a semi-conscious state from a field near Dhoda Road in Mailsi. She was found with her hands and legs tied and unable to speak.

    The day she was recovered, police said she told them she had been kidnapped from her office by unidentified men on August 14.

    A viral video that followed her recovery showed the lawyer in a traumatised state.

    Further investigation was underway, police added.

    On Monday, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan also reportedly took notice of the incident after the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) issued a statement condemning incidents of targeted killings, kidnappings and incidents of torture of lawyers.

    In the statement, PBC Vice Chairperson Abid Saqi strongly condemned the incident, saying the increasing lawlessness in Pakistan was extremely concerning. Five lawyers have been shot dead in targeted killing so far, including four in Punjab and one in Sindh, he said.

    Three lawyers in Lahore, Pakpattan, Sialkot were kidnapped and tortured, Saqi added.

    The PBC official said the torture and abduction of the woman lawyer was extremely worrisome. The woman lawyer, he added, was tortured continuously for six days after her abduction.

    She was recovered in a very critical condition in the fields in Mailsi, he added.

    Saqi further said these incidents of violence have made lawyers vulnerable and their safety compromised. The government’s indifference to targeted killings, kidnappings, and violence in just three weeks was reprehensible, he added.

    It was the duty of the government and the administration to improve the law and order situation, he said, lamenting that the incumbent leadership had failed to protect its citizens.

    The official said the current situation called into question the ability of the government. He demanded action against those involved in the targeted killings, kidnapping, and torture of lawyers.

    Meanwhile, according to reports, she was once kidnapped earlier in October 2019 as well.

  • Did a sniper really take shots at Maryam Nawaz in Lahore? IG answers

    Did a sniper really take shots at Maryam Nawaz in Lahore? IG answers

    Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shoaib Dastgir has dismissed reports of bullets being fired at the vehicle of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz last week when she was to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Lahore.

    Many police officials were injured when a scuffle broke out last week between policemen and PML-N workers ahead of Maryam’s appearance. Footage of the incident suggested that workers had brought bags full of stones which were pelted at police and security officials.

    READ: Safdar for police case against Imran over ‘assassination attempt’ on wife Maryam

    Former senator Sajid Mir, after meeting Maryam on Sunday, claimed she had been targeted by some sniper during her appearance, saying the windscreen of her bullet-proof vehicle could not be smashed by a stone.

    Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Dastgir said no evidence was offered to back up claims asserted through reports and social media.

    He also said the institution of police is an independent one and has no tussle with any political party. However, he warned, those who took the law into their hands will be punished.

  • Software installed to keep Punjab Police’s Rs119b annual budget under check

    The finance wing of the Punjab Police has presented a comprehensive financial management software to stop corruption and embezzlement of funds in police accounts.

    Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) helped in the development and installation of the software. This kind of software has not been deployed before in any state-run department in Pakistan.

    The software will monitor the budget of Rs119 billion that is allocated to police annually. The initiative was taken keeping in view the previous mega scams of corruption in police accounts when the district accountants had withdrawn funds worth hundreds of millions of rupees and misused them for personal gains.

    Recently, a similar scandal has embarrassed Punjab Police when an inquiry panel of senior police officers proposed disciplinary action against a senior officer following a mega scam of Rs340 million in the accounts of the traffic police department.

    With this new software, the accounts will be made online, giving access to the Regional Police Officers (RPOs), District Police Officers (DPOs) and the Finance wing at the Central Police Office (CPO) to keep monitoring of the funds withdrawn by the accountants of the concerned districts.

    Meanwhile, according to a police handout, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab, Shoaib Dastgir said that police station is a basic unit in police department and officers should play a supervisory role for improving working and prestige of this basic unit so that problems of citizens may be resolved by the timely provision of justice.

  • Lahore police launch app to verify domestic workers

    Lahore police launch app to verify domestic workers

    The Lahore police have introduced the ‘Pehchaan App’ so that the public can access FIR and criminal records before hiring a domestic worker.  

    The Pehchaan App is easily available on the App Store and anyone can download it. Users have to register with CNIC number before accessing records.  

    An inaugural ceremony was held at the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Zulfiqar Hameed’s office. The smartphone application is developed with the help of Punjab Safe Cities Authorities (PSCA) by CCPO Hameed.

    DIG Investigation Dr Inam Waheed and SSP Investigation Zeeshan Asghar also attended the ceremony.

    In the initial phase, the App is being introduced in Lahore as a pilot project.  

  • In a first, Rawalpindi police recruit a transgender officer

    In a first, Rawalpindi police recruit a transgender officer

    For the first time in their history, the Rawalpindi police have recruited a transgender as a police officer in their squad.

    According to details, Reem Sharif, a prominent transgender rights activist in Islamabad will now join the police department as a police officer.

    Reem proved that she has all the skills required to become a 14-grade police officer and will now be deployed in Rawalpindi’s women police force. She is expected to begin her duties soon.

    Speaking on her appointment, Sharif said, “I am delighted to be in this position. Through this, I will have the option to deal with some of the most pressing issues faced by my transgender community.”

    “I knew I needed to live my life and be true to who I was. I need to be honest with myself, and that was coming out as a transgender woman”, she added.

    Reem further said, “I don’t consider this position as a career ladder but as a milestone for representing my community. My presence will make it comfortable for the transgender community”.

    Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi police station, with the purpose to provide justice to the trans community, who face constant abuse from society, has also made a special desk to provide them with equal rights.

  • 21 cops on Sunday, 92 health professionals in two days test positive for coronavirus

    21 cops on Sunday, 92 health professionals in two days test positive for coronavirus

    At least 21 Punjab Police officials on Sunday and 92 health professionals within the last two days have tested positive for the new coronavirus. The sudden spike in the number of health professionals contracting the virus has increased the national tally of infected doctors, nurses, paramedics and support staff to 345.

    As per the details of the infected cops, additional inspector general (AIG) operations has said that over 60 police personnel were tested for the virus, out of which 21 tested positive. One of the cops was deployed at the Central Police Office (CPO) whereas the results of many others are awaited.

    While cops dealing with masses are at a greater risk to contract COVID-19 and incidents of them falling sick have been reported from various parts of the country, health professionals remain on the frontline in the battle against the global pandemic.

    According to a Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination official, the number of health professionals contracting the virus increased to 345 from 253 after new cases were detected among the medical community.

    The official said that doctors are the most-affected among healthcare professionals with over 165 of them now undergoing treatment across the country. As many as 131 members of paramedical and support staff, as well as 41 nurses, have also contracted the virus.

    Apart from the confirmed cases, more than 1,500 doctors, nurses, paramedics and those with whom they came into contact, are in quarantine. Many are waiting for their test results after coming into contact with health professionals who have already tested positive, the official said.

    They added that most of the cases of coronavirus among health professionals had been reported in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab, while a few cases had also been reported in Sindh and the federal capital.

  • Heartwarming video shows Punjab cop buying food for stray dogs, feeding them

    Heartwarming video shows Punjab cop buying food for stray dogs, feeding them

    As the lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus stays in place and animal rights activists voice concerns over strays starving to death, a heartwarming video over the internet has shown a Punjab Police cop buying food and feeding stray dogs by the side of a road.

    “If only people considered us policemen as humans. Forgive our mistakes. We are your servants. We deserve that much love,” wrote Lahore’s Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for Investigation Dr Inam Waheed as he tweeted the video that showed the cop, namely Ishtiaq, buying food and feeding it to dogs.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://twitter.com/inamkhan24/status/1250479090399883264

    Here’s what Twitterati, including celebrities, have to say about it:

    “I salute such great people,” wrote another user.

    Earlier, amid appeals by activists to take care of strays during the lockdown, heartwarming stories had surfaced of people helping animals suffering and adjusting to the changes caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

    “During the lockdown, animals have been abandoned in cages in markets and pet stores in Karachi. Many have starved and died. Dr Sheila is a vet working tirelessly to help collect, vaccinate and find shelter for these poor animals. Please, please, please donate. And share,” tweeted a user.

    Another user shared the picture of a group of volunteers feeding monkeys.

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