LAHORE – An attack with an acid-like liquid left two women partially burnt at a Sunday Bazaar in the Islampura police limits on Sunday. A minor girl, the daughter of one of the victims, however, remained safe in the attack.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and sought report from the CCPO in this regard.
SP City (Operations) Multan Khan said two women namely Arooj Fatima and Saba sustained minor injuries but refused to take any action against two unidentified culprits. He said around 10:30am Arooj Fatima, along with her sister Saba and her minor daughter Zareef Fatima were busy shopping at the Sunday Bazaar when two motorcyclists threw acid-like liquid on them. He, however, said the acid was thrown in haste so the females remained safe from severe damage and even could not realise that someone had thrown acid on them. Multan Khan further said they had flatly refused to take action against anyone. “As a police officer, I think there is something wrong and facts are otherwise as apparently we are seeing,” Multan Khan maintained.
Earlier, a Sub-Inspector Muhammad Anwar responded the incident but the victims straightforwardly refused to even introduce themselves.
An on duty police officer said the women, residents of Sanat Nagar, were busy shopping when two unidentified motorcyclists threw acid on them. “Only an arm of a woman was partially burnt and the second also received such minor injuries but the third remained safe in the attack,” he stated. He further said Arooj Fatima, wife of Hasnain Zaidi, went on to misbehave with policemen.
The victims approached the Burn Unit of the Mayo Hospital for their medical treatment. Minutes after the chief minister took notice of the incident, SP City Multan Khan, DSP Islampura Circle and heavy contingents cordoned off the hospital and asked the victim women to cooperate with the police. Police teams were insisting the victims to initiate legal action against the culprits. Mr Khan, however, affirmed that the culprits would be nabbed at any cost. Further investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, Punjab Highway Patrol (PHP) claimed to have arrested 25 culprits on the charges of illegal firearms, theft and liquor on Sunday.
The arrested were identified as M Nadeem, Shahid Iqbal, Zaighum Saeed, Riaz Ahmad, M Sharif, M Irfan, M Wakeel, Bilal Ahmed, M Hussain, M Abid, Majid, Pervez, Sajjad Hussain, M Usman, Zafar, Nazim Iqbal, Nasar Iqbal, Sajid Ali, Mobeen Rafie, Faisal Shabbir, Zulfqar Ali, M Talib, Abid Hussain, M Asif, and M Nazir.
Police have also recovered illegal firearms, bullets, liquor and stolen property worth million rupees from them.
CRACKDOWN: CCPO Aslam Tareen has ordered the City Police to launch a strict crackdown on land grabbers. During the ongoing campaign against land grabbers, the City Police have registered 157 cases, whereas 587 culprits have been arrested, the CCPO said. In his order, the CCPO directed the police officers to ensure exemplary punishment to those who indulge in such illegal activities. Aslam Tareen warned that if any officer or official was found involved in providing patronage to the land grabbers, he would also be strictly proceeded at departmental level. Mr Tareen appealed to the masses to point out such criminals by providing timely information to the police. “Every civilised society creates sense of protection among its citizens, in which they are sure that nobody can illegally occupy their property,” Tareen maintained.