Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday took strict notice of the incident of rape with a girl on the order of local Punchayat in Muzaffarabad area of Multan.

The CM has sought report from City Police Officer (CPO) Multan. He has also directed to take stern action against the responsible persons under the law and further said that justice should be provided to the bereaved family and indiscriminate action should be taken against the criminals by registering case against them.

On the directions of the Chief Minister, a case has been registered against the criminals and 20 persons including head of the Punchayat have been arrested whereas operations are underway to apprehend the prime suspect.

The suspect who raped a 17-year-old girl in Multan’s Muzaffarabad area on the orders of Panchayat (village council) is still at large as the police remained unsuccessful in arresting him even after 14 hours of the incident.

On July 16, 12-year-old Shamim Bibi was allegedly raped by Umer Wada. A Panchayat headed by Ameen and Saeed Patwari was held to declare the verdict in the incident. The Panchayat members directed Shamim Bibi’s brother Ishfaque to avenge the incident while raping Wada’s sister Azra.On July 18, Ishfaque raped Azra while complying with the council’s orders.

Shamim’s family had filed a case against Wada in Women Police Centre. However; when Azra’s parents came to know of the incident they also filed a case against Ishfaque. Muzaffarbad police came into action after receiving information of Panchayt’s decision and arrested the council head Ameen and several others.