ISLAMABAD: National Assembly's Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony unanimously passed on Friday a resolution against newly appointed Capital City Police Officer (CCPO), Lahore, Umer Sheikh seeking an unconditional apology from him for his 'insensitive' remarks related to the rape of a woman near Lahore earlier on Wednesday, and demanded an inquiry against him.

The committee met under the chairmanship of Asad Mahmood. The committee discussed the woman rape incident at motorway near Lahore in the early hours of Wednesday and came down hard on the CCPO, Lahore, who had questioned as to why the victim chose to travel via 'deserted' motorway in the middle of the night instead of taking the 'crowded' Grand Trunk (GT) Road.

The committee strongly condemned the CPPO's remarks and termed them as tantamount to victim- blaming and adding insult to the injury caused to the victim. The committee then unanimously passed a resolution strongly condemning the incident as well as the CCPO remarks, sought an unconditional apology from him and a thorough inquiry against him. The resolution also demanded that the culprits involved in this incident be taken to justice with the award of an exemplary punishment.

"We are ashamed that a woman has been raped in front of her children and robbed of her valuables and those assigned to protect her are blaming her. It is a matter of crying shame for all of us that such a person has been made the chief of Lahore police," the committee members said.

The standing committee also considered a notice, regarding finality of Prophethood (Peace Be Upon Him), moved by Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjh and decided that laws related to finality of Prophethood need to be made more effective. The committee recommended to insert a clause about finality of Prophethood in all of the oaths which are applicable to the Muslims, and formed a sub-committee to submit its report in 30 days.

Committee members including Saleem Khan, Sahibzada Sibghatullah, Bashir Khan, Mujahid Ali, Raja Riaz, Javed Iqbal Warraich, Jamshed Thomas, Saira Bano, Shunila Ruth, Chaudhary Faqir Ahmed, Tahira Bokhari among others as well as Federal Religious Affairs Minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri and senior government officials attended the meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020