Maryam lauds ASP for rescuing woman from mob

LAHORE:Newly-elected Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Monday lauded the efforts of ASP Shehrbano for saving a woman from a violent mob and ensuring her protection.

The CM appreciated the ASP for performing her duty with responsibility and added that everyone must save society from religious fanaticism. The ASP has already been recommended for the prestigious Quaid-i-Azam Police Medal (QPM).

Human rights activist Tanvir Jahan said the woman’s attire bore no connection with any religious symbolism, assertion or act. Jahan said despite this, these hardline hooligans demanded an apology from the woman. Why the woman’s apology was needed if they were the ones responsible for the reprehensible acts of harassment and jeopardising her safety, the rights activist asked.

Jahan said it was such ‘bigots’ who should have apologised for their judgment. “Those who had tried to perpetrate the violence, where she was not even wrong–ought to be identified through surveillance footage, and legal recourse should be pursued against them to ensure accountability and justice,” she added.

Meanwhile, digital and human rights activist, Nighat Dad questioned whether the State was willing and ready to tackle the increasing terrorism and moral policing that was steadily rising even in urban areas.

Irfan Mufti, convener of Joint Action Committee (JAC) and human rights defender, said he was very concerned about the rise in militancy and that this was a huge challenge for the government, while it was equally worrying as the public believe in accusations of blasphemy without even verifying them.