LAHORE: Footages have surfaced recently which show women supporters at PTI rally at Charing Cross Lahore being publicly harassed and groped. It has drawn criticism and condemnation from ruling and opposition parties alike. Social media also went abuzz with the news and continuous condemnations started pouring in.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) organized a public gathering at Charing Cross in Lahore on May 1. PTI leaders from Lahore including Aleem Khan, Shoaib Siddiqi and others were responsible for taking care of administrative issues. Separate pavilions were designated for men and women at the venue.
Arrangements were made to avoid any untoward incident especially after PTI’s women supporters were previously harassed in Islamabad at a PTI rally on the eve of party’s foundation day as reported by scrolltoday. However, it has been learnt that men started entering women’s area at the Lahore rally. Women participants in reaction started hurling abuses at men. Initially rally’s administration and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) tried to pacify the situation but it went out of control.
A similar situation previously emerged at the Islamabad rally and like Lahore women harassment could not be avoided in Islamabad as well. PTI chairman had later tendered an apology after the incident.
Police have registered a case under sections 394, 354 and others against around 100 alleged perpetrators. Suspects are being identified through videos of the incident which emerged later.
The incident was condemned and criticized on social media:
Application is given against the mistreatment with our respectable female workers and followers. pic.twitter.com/i9UqadG9ar
— Shoaib Siddiqui (@ShoaibPTI_PP147) May 3, 2016
Happened at a PTI jalsa. Dont really care if RAW did it. Shouldnt hv happened. Must be punished. End of discussion. https://t.co/jxiiE8wbuY
— Imaan Z Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) May 3, 2016
#PTI leadership was too busy showcasing themselves on jalsa to be bothered abt helpless women participants who were harassed #GrowUpPTI
— Maiza Hameed (@MaizaHameed) April 26, 2016
Incident was disgusting but more disgusting is to play politics over this incident. #KoiSharamHotiHai https://t.co/ZhtOPzerBa
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) May 3, 2016
PTI youth wanted to carry out accountability of what happened in Model Town by molesting and wildly groping their own females. WTF Vigil
— Saroor Ijaz (@Saroorification) May 3, 2016
SHAMEFUL act of harassment of #PTI women by #PMLN guys…Where is the respect of women? At this pace where r v leading to? @Maria_Memon 🙁
— Faisal Subzwari (@faisalsubzwari) December 8, 2014
