Outcry over insensitive remarks by Lahore CCPO about gang-rape victim
As the newly-appointed Lahore police chief blamed the motorway gang-rape victim for the incident, a strong reaction on social media forced Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari to condemn the controversial officer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmx9WoLaPJM
“For an officer to effectively blame a woman for being gang-raped by saying she should have taken the GT Road or question as to why she went out in the night with her children is unacceptable,” she said in a tweet.
For an officer to effectively blame a woman for being gang raped by saying she should have taken the GT Road or question as to why she went out in the night with her children is unacceptable & have taken up this issue. Nothing can ever rationalise the crime of rape. That's it.
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) September 10, 2020
Mazari added that she has taken up the issue. “Nothing can ever rationalise the crime of rape. That's it.”
Earlier, CCPO Lahore Umer Sheikh told a private TV channel that the gang-rape victim shouldn’t have used that road.
He did not limit himself to this as he went even further, saying why she had ventured out during the night for a long journey and that she should have checked the fuel tank of her car.
As soon as the TV channel aired the police officer’s remarks, social media like Twitter burst with anger, as the people from different walks of life called for his removal.
PML-N’s Sania Ashiq, who is a member of Punjab Assembly, said, “This is the cheap mindset we need to change.”
According to CCPO Umar shaikh the woman who got raped in front of her kids is at fault because she chose the wrong route. Na Tum ghalat rastay per jaati na rape hota. This is the cheap mindset we need to change. pic.twitter.com/qdijpjxk3k
— Sania Ashiq (@SaniaaAshiq) September 10, 2020
Like many others, senior Nasim Zehra, who is associated with 24NewsHD TV channel, demanded his immediate removal.
https://twitter.com/NasimZehra/status/1304034109543657478
An active Twitter user even suggested that Punjab Chief Usman Buzdar should issue a notification to inform the women that they must consult the CCPO for select a safe road to avoid being raped in front of their children.
https://twitter.com/Liaqyat/status/1304018696155860992
After i tweeted it i've been told CCPO the incharge of Punjab police is a serial womanizer, criminal and a harasser himself n here's what the investigation Bureau (IB) has to say about him in an official report but since he had strong political connections no one can dismiss him. https://t.co/pT63gErpRT pic.twitter.com/MzShvAOGfo
— Rumpoptarts. (@rumpoptarts) September 10, 2020
خاتون کے اکیلے سفر کرنے کو ریپ کی وجہ قرار دینے والے یہ بھی بتا دیں کہ کیا عورت کو اکیلے دفن کرنا چاہیے یا محرم کے ساتھ؟ کیونکہ آپ لوگ تو قبر سے لاش نکال کر بھی ریپ کر دیتے ہو۔
— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) September 10, 2020
And the angry people have some valid questions. “This is CCPO Umar Sheikh of the esteemed Punjab Police, for whom one IG has already been let go. This victim blamer is supposed to protect us?”
This is CCPO Umar Sheikh of the esteemed Punjab Police, for whom one IG has already been let go. This victim blamer is supposed to protect us? pic.twitter.com/yoeZc7kBI0
— Zebunnisa Burki (@zburki) September 10, 2020
Remove him from such an important police posting and sensitive city . He has proven to be a D grade officer not C grade declared by promotion board. https://t.co/hAyWSyI11d
— Asmatullah Niazi (@AsmatullahNiazi) September 10, 2020