Outrage, disbelief as Shabnam rape case convict Farooq Bandial joins PTI

KHUSHAB: Social media erupted in outrage and disbelief after Farooq Bandial, a man involved in 1979 rape of renowned actress Shabnam, met Imran Khan and joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), ARY News reported on Thursday.

Farooq Bandial, who was convicted by a military court in 1979 in the rape and robbery case at then popular actress Shabnam Ghosh’s house, had met Imran Khan in Khushab district of Punjab province and announced to join PTI a day ago.

Bandial, along with his friends, was 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.

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

As journalists, party supporters and general public expressed their anger over a convicted rapist’s acceptance by a party which demands accountability for all, PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry came up with a clarification.

چئرمین تحریک انصاف عمران خان نے ان اطلاعات کا سخت نوٹس لیا ہے جن کے مطابق ایک سزا یافتہ مجرم تحریک انصاف کا حصہ بنا ہے ، نعیم الحق پر مبنی ایک رکنی کمیٹی تین دنوں میں حقائق چئرمین کے سامنے رکھے گی، تحریک انصاف کسی صورت اخلاقی معیارات پر سمجھوتہ نہیں کرے گی

— Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 31, 2018

“Chairman PTI Imran Khan has taken notice of the development after which a convicted criminal became a part of PTI. (PTI’s Chief of Staff) Naeemul Haque will present facts regarding the issue before the Chairman in three days,” Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.