CCPO Lahore Issued ‘Show-Cause Notice’ For Victim-Blaming Amid Protests Against Him

CCPO Lahore

Punjab CM Usman Buzdar on Saturday said Punjab IGP Inam Ghani has issued a show-cause notice to CCPO Lahore Umer Sheikh over his remarks in the motorway gang-rape case.

Comments by the CCPO that the victim of the rape on the motorway was to blame spurred cries of outrage.

Investigators say the woman left her home with her two children in Lahore. She was driving when her car ran out of fuel around 1:30 am. She called a relative and a helpline for the highway police. However, before they arrived, two men approached. They broke the car’s windows and dragged the woman and her children to a field beside the highway, where she was gang-raped.

Talking to a TV channel CCPO Lahore said the victim was at fault for “choosing the route she took and not checking her petrol tank”.

Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said on Twitter that CCPO’s remarks were ‘unacceptable.’ Meanwhile, Pakistanis want the CCPO removed.

However, during a press conference on Saturday CM Buzdar said the CCPO had given an “irrelevant statement.”

“The IG has issued him a show-cause notice [for this statement] and directed him to submit a reply within seven days.”

Buzdar added any legal action would be taken against the CCPO after the submission of his reply.

Protest against CCPO Lahore across the country

Meanwhile, countrywide protests were held on Saturday against increasing incidents of rape and CCPO Lahore. Protesters demanded severe punishments for rapists and the removal of Umer Sheikh from his post.

They say the CCPO, with a “tainted career” as per a report, must also apologize immediately for making insensitive remarks.

Meanwhile, the government also announced to have identified, Abid Ali and Waqarul Hassan Shah, as the culprits in the rape case.

Punjab CM promised that the culprits would be arrested soon. He also announced Rs2.5 million reward for any information leading to their arrest.

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