Minar-e-Pakistan incident: Five police and two Greater Iqbal Park officers shown the door

Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired a meeting at his office in which he expressed strong indignation over some incidents that happened in Lahore recently including the Minar-e-Pakistan.

He expressed displeasure over delay in police response and negligence from duties. 

On the direction of the CM, DIG (Operations) Lahore Sajid Kyani, SSP SSP (Operations) Lahore Syed Nadeem Abbas and SP (City) Operations Hassan Jahangir have been removed from their posts and made officers on special duty.

Similarly, DSP Badami Bagh Usman Haider and SHO Lorri Adda SI Muhammad Jamil have been suspended for showing negligence and delay in response.

Meanwhile, the project director and deputy director of Greater Iqbal Park have also been suspended from their posts for showing negligence.

The IG Police, ACS (Home) and housing secretary briefed the CM about different aspects of the case. 

Law Minister Raja Basharat and Principal Secretary to CM were also present.

Buzdar reviews progress into the case

Usman Buzdar chaired a meeting at the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) head office on 10th of Muharram to review progress made on the tragic incident that occurred at Minar-e-Pakistan. 

A committee was constituted under secretary housing to determine the role of PHA. This committee will ascertain the responsibilities and alleged negligence of PHA officials. An inquiry committee constituted under additional IG police/MD PSCA Sardar Ali Khan will identify the negligence and responsibilities of security staff. 

The CM declared that this test case will be brought to the logical end without any delay and the affected woman will be provided justice while fulfilling requirements. The accused persons deserve no tolerance; he continued and directed to proceed with investigations scientifically to apprehend the offenders. 

The IG Police presented the initial report adding that identification of culprits is in progress in collaboration with NADRA and some of the accused have already been held.

Law Minister Raja Basharat, ACS (Homs), MD & COO PSCA Principal Secretary to CM, commissioner and CCPO Lahore, and others were also present.

IGP discloses investigation process  

Inspector General of Police Punjab Inam Ghani has said that several teams of Lahore Police are working day and night to ensure arrests as soon as possible after identifying the culprits of the tragic and sad incident with a woman in Greater Iqbal Park and no effort will be spared to arrest all the accused involved as soon as possible. 

He further said 60 photographs of the accused have been sent to NADRA and the police teams are conducting raids for the immediate arrest of the accused whose identities are being received and so far 30 persons have been arrested after identification. 

He further said that the identification of the accused is also being done with the help of viral videos on social media while the process of arresting the other accused identified by the arrested accused is also underway. 

The IG Punjab further said that the police teams are also active in arresting the accused with the help of geo-fencing while using all available resources and modern technology, the arrest and speedy investigation of the accused is being ensured.

He further said that the accused involved in gender crimes do not deserve any concession that is why the provisions of the FIR of the incident are punishable by life imprisonment or death penalty. 

He further said that I myself am keeping an eye on the investigation of the incident and Punjab Police while fulfilling all the requirements of justice will leave no stone unturned in providing speedy justice to the victim and convicting the accused.

IG Punjab has appealed to the media, social media users and the public to refrain from speculating about the case and discourage rumors as spreading any word or information without verification would affect the investigation of the case. 

He further asked the media, social media users and the public to provide any evidence or material available to the police regarding the identity of the accused in the case.

The name of the citizen who gives us related evidence and information shall remain secret and  action will be taken against the accused without any delay.  He further said that DPR Punjab Police would provide information to the media on a daily basis regarding the progress made in the incident.