PTI holds nationwide protests to mark three years

Punjab Police suspended 78 officials of Lahore’s Ghaziabad Police Station after an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a mentally challenged young woman inside the police station. The action followed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the accused under rape provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code and relevant sections of the Police Order 2002. Senior police authorities immediately took notice of the incident and ordered the arrest of the suspect. According to the complaint filed by the victim’s father, his 19 to 20-year-old daughter, who has a mental disability, left home on Sunday afternoon and did not return for some time. During the search, a local resident allegedly informed the family that a policeman in plain clothes had taken the girl away. The complainant said he rushed to the Ghaziabad Police Station, where he was told that his daughter had already been sent home. After returning home, he found her in distress. He alleged that she told him a police official had taken her to the station and sexually assaulted her. Following the complaint, police registered a case and arrested the accused ASI. Authorities also launched both criminal and departmental investigations into the matter. As part of disciplinary action, 78 police personnel, including the station house officer (SHO), sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, front desk officials and other staff members, were suspended over alleged negligence, poor supervision and failure to maintain discipline at the police station. All suspended officials have been directed to report to Police Lines until further orders. Police officials said maintaining discipline and ensuring a safe environment at police stations is the responsibility of every officer. They warned that negligence or irresponsible conduct would not be tolerated and pledged strict accountability at the police station level. A new SHO has been appointed to take charge of Ghaziabad Police Station while the investigation continues. Punjab Women Protection Authority Chairperson Hina Parvez Butt strongly condemned the incident, describing it as deeply disturbing and calling for strict legal action against those responsible. Police said further legal and departmental proceedings will be carried out after the investigation is completed.

The alleged murder of a young woman’s fiancé, uncle and father in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district over a marriage dispute echoed in the Balochistan Assembly, where lawmakers demanded the immediate arrest of the main suspect. During the assembly session chaired by Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, Provincial Minister Ali Madad Jatak informed the house that the suspect allegedly killed the woman’s fiancé after his marriage proposal was rejected. He said the victim’s uncle was also murdered, while the woman was allegedly abducted before being recovered by police. According to the minister, the woman’s father was later shot dead after her video statement highlighting security threats surfaced on social media. Jatak told the assembly that despite two days having passed since the father’s killing, a first information report (FIR) had not yet been registered. He expressed concern over the delay in legal proceedings and called for immediate action against the accused. Opposition Leader Younis Zehri warned that if the suspect was not arrested, the provincial chief minister and the home minister would be held responsible. In protest over the lack of progress, both Zehri and Provincial Minister Ali Madad Jatak staged a walkout from the assembly. Member of the Provincial Assembly Maulana Hidayatur Rehman also voiced serious concern over the incident and demanded the resignation of the provincial home minister. He claimed that those responsible for the crime were widely known and criticised the prevailing law and order situation in the province. Responding to the criticism, Home Minister Zia Langove assured lawmakers that the government was in contact with the affected family and that police had been directed to arrest the suspect without delay. The speaker instructed the Inspector General of Police, the Deputy Inspector General and the Khuzdar district police chief to ensure the suspect’s arrest within two days. He also sought daily progress reports on the investigation before adjourning the assembly session until August 28.

Islamabad: The federal government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging its interim order directing the transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital. In its petition, the government described the Supreme Court’s interim order as an overreach of legal authority. It argued that the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, clearly prescribe the procedure for providing medical treatment to prisoners. According to the government, a prisoner can be shifted to a government civil hospital or a district headquarters hospital when necessary. However, it said there is no provision in the law for transferring a prisoner to a private hospital. The government also maintained that prison laws and the Prisons Act do not give a prisoner the right to receive treatment from a private doctor of his choice. The petition stated that Imran Khan’s case had been fixed for hearing for the first time and that he had not even been issued a notice. Despite this, the court issued an interim order regarding his medical treatment and transfer. The government argued that the court appeared to have reached the conclusion that Imran Khan’s health was deteriorating on the basis of a medical report. However, according to the petition, the report did not clearly indicate any such deterioration. It further stated that a medical board had examined Imran Khan several times. The government maintained that expert medical opinions should have been sought before making a decision on such a medical matter. The petition also challenged the use of Section 561-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, arguing that the provision cannot be used to interfere in matters falling within the jurisdiction of prison authorities. The government further objected to the relief granted to Imran Khan at the interim stage. It said four requests were effectively granted through the interim order, including his transfer to Shifa International Hospital, access to personal doctors, meetings with family members, and provision of medical reports to his lawyers. According to the government, such relief at the interim stage amounted to granting final relief without completing the regular legal proceedings. The petition also warned that allowing a special facility for Imran Khan at a private hospital could set a precedent for other prisoners. It argued that other inmates could make similar demands under prison laws, potentially creating a large number of such requests. The government maintained that providing such special treatment would also conflict with the principle of equal treatment of prisoners.