LHC CJ takes notice of baton-charge on women
LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif on Tuesday, taking notice of police baton charge on protesting women in Gujranwala, said that lawbreakers could not be tolerated.
The chief minister had taken a suo moto notice of the incident on Tuesday morning and summoned the regional police officer, Gujranwala, and other police officers concerned at 2pm the same day.
The incident was reported in an English daily, saying that on June 22, Rashida, along with her five daughters, two sons and other relatives gathered outside the DIG office, Gujranwala, to lodge a protest. A criminal case for the murder of her husband, an ex-armyman, was registered but the police instead of arresting the nominated criminals lodged a case against her and her daughter.
The news item said that when the protesters tried to meet the DIG, the police personnel started indiscriminate baton charge on them. Bones of three women were fractured while most of them were severely thrashed by the police.
Appearing before the court, RPO Zulfiqar Cheema conceded that the police could not handle the situation amicably and told the court that four police officials had been suspended for their illegal action. At this, the chief justice got infuriated and asked the RPO whether he had ever punished any high-ranking police officer besides constables. The chief justice warned the RPO not to use the low-ranking officials as scapegoats and take action against the police officers who gave orders for the baton charge.
Source: The News
Date:6/24/2009
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