Imran Khan expels convicted rapist Farooq Bandial from PTI

ISLAMABAD: After criticism from all quarters, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday announced that party chief Imran Khan has expelled Farooq Bandial- a convicted rapist- from party, ARY News reported.

“This (rape case) was a 40 year old case and none of us knew about it, it was party’s local leadership which arranged his meeting with Khan and his inclusion in PTI but Imran Khan expelled him as soon as details of this case came up on social media,” PTI spokesman Naeemul Haque told ARY News.

Earlier in the day, social media erupted in outrage and disbelief after a picture of Farooq Bandial- a man involved in 1979 rape of renowned actress Shabnam- with PTI chief Imran Khan went viral. Bandial had joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) a day ago.

“Farooq Bandial’s entry into PTI was unfortunate. He has been expelled from the party with immediate effect. We have no place for people with such record in our party. He should not even be in any political party,” Naeemul Haque tweeted after talking to ARY News.

Farooq Bandials entry into PTI was unfortunate. He has been expelled from the party with immediate effect. We have no place for people with such record in our party. He should not even be in any political party.

— Naeem ul Haque (@naeemul_haque) May 31, 2018

Bandial was convicted by a military court in 1979 in the rape and robbery case at then popular actress Shabnam Ghosh’s house.

https://arynews.tv/en/shabnam-rape-farooq-bindial-joins-pti/

He and his accomplices were sentenced to death but his death sentence was later changed to life sentence after his family reportedly pressurized Shabnam to ‘forgive’ him.

The actress later left the country and is now living in Bangladesh.

Social media users heavily criticised PTI’s decision to welcome him to the party forcing the party to expel him hours after his inclusion.

Farooq Bandial the prime culprit in actress Shabnam Ji’s gang rape case in Zia regime has joined PTI. The entire gang was given death sentence, but they pressurized family for pardon. After Irfanullah Marwat, it’s Farooq Bandial. @PTIofficial mainstreaming rapists! pic.twitter.com/95tDmW8KNF

— Maleeha Manzoor (@MaleehaManzoor) May 31, 2018

One shame followed by bigger shame. #FarooqBandial a convicted rapist, ordered to die, given clemency by dictator Zia joins #PTI. Zia committed judicial murder of SZAB just 6 months before this clemency. Zia had spared Bandyal gang as requested by S. M. Zafar. #ShamefulPTI pic.twitter.com/nied20HmaJ

— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) May 31, 2018

Farooq Bandial was convicted in Shabnam rape case. I was in school then but I still remember that horrific case where she was raped in front of her family.

Shabnam was a national icon, loved by millions.

— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) May 31, 2018