PML-N woman activist harassed, mistreated in Pattoki

KASUR: A Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) local woman leader was reportedly manhandled by party activists moments after Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif addressed a political gathering in Pattoki, ARY News reported. 

The woman, who has been not been named, identified herself as local leader and accused that several PML-N activists mistreated and shoved her during the political gathering. She urged Shahbaz Sharif to take notice of the incident and the miscreants be given an exemplary punishment.

She said that she was an ardent PML-N activist and has even attended party political gatherings in Mansehra and Lodhran. However, some PML-N activists manhandled her during the political gathering in Pattoki.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the mistreatment of the woman was a crime, and the miscreants will identified through CCTV footage and promptly arrested. He said the a case will be registered in the presence of the woman.

Expressing deep concern over the incident, he said that indiscriminate legal action will be taken against the perpetrators. He said that he has directed to arrest the miscreants, and merely expelling them from the party will be a minor punishment.

“This is a crime, irrespective of their political affiliation. Police have been directed to identify the miscreants,” he told ARY News adding that those violating party discipline will be punished and a case will be lodged against them.

The law minister also used the opportunity to lash out at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). “These incidents occur in PTI political gatherings. PTI never took action against such incidents,” he said. “This trend was introduced by PTI. This is PTI’s culture.”

Punjab government spokesman Malik Ahmed Khan also condemned the ‘unforgivable’ incident and vowed that the perpetrators will be given an exemplary punishment. He said the incident occurred due to the commotion caused at the political gathering.

He said that PML-N was a responsible party which gave immense respect to women and had separate enclosures for them. He added that it was not the upbringing of the party activists to mistreat women in political gatherings.

PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said that women should not attend PML-N political gatherings. He said that women attended such events were not politically aware and often government officials, while the PML-N was a conservative and backward party with not much consideration for women.

He said the PML-N should make arrangements for the protections of women at political events, like the PTI which handled the situation when similar incident occurred during their event in Lahore.

PTI leader Firdous Ashiq Awan said the incident reflects the mindset and upbringing of PML-N activists, and a glimpse of the party’s attitude towards women. Pakistan People Party leader Sherry Rehman said she was disheartened to see the women mistreated in PTI and PML-N political events and such incidents never occurred in PPP events.

She added that women play a pivotal role in society and politics and even in the independence movement. She urged PML-N leadership to publicly apologise for the incident and give strict punishment to prevent further incidents.

Police arrest one suspect

In a late development, police arrested one of the accused in the incident named Mohsin. Police have registered a case FIR No. 114/18 under sections 354/294/341/506/147/149 at City Police Station Pattoki against all accused.

The complaint filed by woman’s brother-in-law, Abid Asghar Ali, claimed that Ms. Masmat Zeeba Asfeen, was harassed and mistreated by around five to six unknown individuals during the political gathering. The suspects blocked the victim’s way and hurled threats at her and shoved away causing minor injuries on her arm.