Social media users in Pakistan have called for the public hanging of rapists as public anger boils over the gruesome gang-rape of a woman on Lahore-Sialkot motorway in front of her children yesterday. Twitter users, including Pakistani celebrities, have expressed their anguish and resentment on the motorway rape incident and have demanded authorities to take strict action against the culprits.
Motorway gang rape case: Women scared to death
The digital space of Pakistan blared with posts and messages of condemnation with the call to publicly hang the rapists trending atop on Twitter. The spine-chilling incident has sent shockwaves across Pakistan, as many female Twitter users reacted to the incident, saying they it has plunged them into extreme fear as they are now afraid to step out of their homes alone.
– I hear you too close … you’re in power today and no one knows how long would it last. I assure you the youth is with you if you step up and just put these guys to their place people have way too many hopes in you there needs to be rapid action please . @ImranKhanPTI
— Feroze Khan (@ferozekhaan) September 10, 2020
This act and all acts of rape are evil. I’m sick and at a loss for words. We need our government to provide a system of education AND punishment that ensures the safety of women in our country before anyone else is subjected to such a heinous crime. #motorwayincident
— Hadiqa Kiani (@Hadiqa_Kiani) September 10, 2020
This is shameful, it is gross negligence, and the Motorway Police should be held accountable. She called an emergency helpline and was denied help.
— Osman Khalid Butt 🇵🇸 (@aClockworkObi) September 9, 2020
While the cases of sexual harassment are rampant in Pakistan, the recent incident of gang rape of a woman on Lahore-Sialkot motorway has exacerbated the fears among women regarding their safety and security severely.
Many female social media users said that women, and now even young girls, are equally unsafe at their homes and in public spaces. They noted that the incident has patently shaken their trust in the LEAs, since none of the authorities came to the rescue of the woman and children in time despite her repeated calls for help.
The irony that I tweeted "im okay with this" to a video of a rapist being stoned to death an hour prior to news of mother raped in front of children on motorway & 2 days after news of 5yr old Marwa shows how deep in trouble we are as a society.
— Ushna Shah (@ushnashah) September 9, 2020
A bevy of internet users argued that Pakistan is fast becoming a country unsafe for women. Hence, authorities should take decisive actions against the culprits to set a precedence. They even demanded the Supreme Court take immediate notice of the incident.
Read more: Woman gang-raped in front of children on Lahore-Sialkot motorway
Celebrities, including Osman Khalid Butt, Feroze Khan, Hadiqa Kiani, and others expressed outrage on the incident. They also addressed Prime Minister Imran Khan directly on Twitter to take stern action.
Many Twitter users are convinced that had the punishment of stoning the rapists to death or public execution and hanging been implemented at the time of the terrifying incident of the rape and murder incident of an eight-year-girl Zainab from Kasur in 2018, these incidents would have been curtailed in Pakistan.
https://twitter.com/ArmeenaRK/status/1303811691550052357?s=20
The incident of the woman being gang-raped yesterday followed another incident of rape and murder of a 5-year-old Marwah in Karachi reported earlier this week.
Traces of rapists found: IG Punjab Ghani
The disgruntled Twitter users even slammed the lackluster and apathetic approach of LEAs. However, IG Punjab, while addressing the incident today, has claimed to have found traces of rapists. IG Inam Ghani claimed that police have the clues to reach the culprits.
Update on #motorwayincident by IG Punjab @InamGhani:
â–ª Village of culprits has been identified
â–ª Extensive search operation going on
â–ª 12 suspects arrested already
â–ª Using modern/traditional techniques #HangRapists #hangrapistspublicly #PublicHangingOfRapists pic.twitter.com/CZC8MElEA6— Azhar Mashwani (@MashwaniAzhar) September 10, 2020
Read more: Police arrest 12 suspects in 5 year old Marwah’s rape and murder case
Talking to a private TV channel, he said 20 teams are working on this case, and the DIG himself is monitoring the investigation. “The perpetrators will soon be apprehended,” he said. He stated the victim lady had revealed the ages and identification of the accused. “A good clue has been found now. It will lead the police directly to the culprits. It cannot be disclosed on media at present,” he said.
He told media men the voter list and NADRA record of the entire area has been collected. “70 people are those who are having a criminal record. Their geofencing has also been got conducted. The report thereof is awaited,” he noted.