Motorway gang-rape: PML-N demands removal of CCPO Lahore

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has demanded the removal of Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) for Lahore, Umar Sheikh, for his remarks on the Lahore motorway gang-rape victim.

“Women’s dignity is not safe as long as this CCPO is in office”, party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb told journalists while addressing a press conference in Islamabad today (Friday).

Earlier, while talking to a private news channel, CCPO Lahore Umar Sheikh blamed the victim of motorway gang-rape for choosing the wrong route and for leaving the home late at night.

Maryam Aurangzeb termed the motorway rape incident as tragic and demanded the CCPO Lahore be fired from his job so that an example can be made out of him. “CCPO Lahore should be given as severe a punishment as will be handed out to the rapists,” she added.

“Lahore CCPO’s statement is encouraging the culprits, supporting them, it is affecting the investigation and is saying that the fault lies with that mother who was gang-raped,” she said adding, “The victim had her children with her, her protection was your responsibility.”

The PML-N spokesperson criticised CCPO Umar Sheikh questioning a rape survivor’s choices instead of focusing on his duties. “CCPO Lahore asked why the women stepped out at night. CCPO asked why the women went out without a driver,” she added.

“On top of that, it is the height of injustice that the entire state, government, prime minister and Punjab chief minister are silent,” she remarked.

Maryam further said that CCPO’s statement meant that Pakistani women should protect themselves because there was no rule in the country. “Later, a federal minister defends the CCPO’s statement,” she added, referring to Planning Minister Asad Umar.