Effective measures must be taken to ensure protection of women, police reforms and provision of justice to citizens.
Police stations should be centres of protection and justice for citizens, but have become symbols of fear.
Effective steps must be taken for the protection of women and police reforms.
Press Conference by Public Aid Committee Convener Waqas Ahmed Butt and President Qaiser Sharif at Syed Maudoodi Islamic Centre
Lahore: Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore Public Aid Committee Convener Waqas Ahmed Butt and President Public Aid Committee Qaiser Sharif have expressed serious concern over the reported incidents of alleged violence, abuse and deaths in custody involving women in Lahore. They demanded that all such incidents be investigated transparently and impartially and that those found responsible be proceeded against in accordance with the law. Secretary Public Aid Committee Shahid Naveed Malik also participated in the emergency press conference.Waqas Ahmed Butt said that the reported incident of alleged sexual abuse of a differently abled girl in Ghaziabad was extremely distressing, while the reported deaths of two women at Township Police Station were also a matter of serious concern. He said that police stations should be centres of protection and provision of justice to citizens, rather than symbols of fear.He claimed that during the first six months of the current year, 414 cases of violence and rape against women had been reported, while 54 gang-rape cases had also surfaced. He further claimed that 386 cases involving abuse of children had been reported. He said that mere announcements were not sufficient for the protection of women; practical measures and effective monitoring were essential.Waqas Ahmed Butt said that the Punjab Police was crossing the red line set by the Chief Minister Punjab and that fundamental changes were needed in the police culture. He demanded that those involved in alleged abuse and deaths of women should be given strict punishment under the law if found guilty after investigation. He also condemned alleged complaints regarding fake police encounters and demanded their immediate prevention, as well as ensuring the legal rights of all citizens, including political workers.Qaiser Sharif said that Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif had announced measures for police to treat citizens with dignity and respect and had also announced police reforms. However, he said that the desired change had not been witnessed during the last three months. He said that a commitment had been made to bring about changes in the police by May 15, but complaints regarding violence, alleged abuse and hooliganism involving the Punjab Police were now emerging in greater numbers than before.He said that the citizens of Lahore were already facing problems related to education, healthcare, transportation and other basic needs. The Chief Minister Punjab should take effective notice of incidents involving violence, alleged rape and deaths of women and ensure justice for the victims, he added.Qaiser Sharif said that restoring public confidence in the institutions responsible for protecting the dignity and lives of citizens was the responsibility of the government. The objective of police reforms could not be achieved without changing the culture of police stations. He said that without fundamental reforms in the system, the justice system in the country could not be improved.The Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore leaders said that the Public Aid Committee would continue its struggle to highlight citizens’ problems, protect women’s rights and ensure justice for oppressed and affected citizens.
