MULTAN ,July 27th: Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif visited the victims of the Multan panchayat rape case on Thursday and suspended the services of local police officials for their negligence in handling the matter.He also expressed resentment over the performance of police officers and said that they neglected the issue and lodged case after eight days.The chief minister met the victim’s families at Women Crisis Centre in Multan and assured them of swift justice.“Those responsible [for the crime] will not be spared in any circumstance,” he declared. Shahbaz Sharif said that the FIR for the first incident of rape was filed eight days later. “The incident shows the worst negligence on part of the police,” he lamented and termed the delay by police ‘criminal’. He also announced the formation of a three-member committee headed by police officer Malik Abubakar comprising Regional Police Officer Sargodha and chairman Chief Minister Inspection Team which would arrive in the city on Thursday (today) to start investigations into the horrible incident.‘The committee has been given 72 hours to submit a report on the case’ he said.Earlier today, four prime suspects who were involved in the rape of a 17-year-old girl on the orders of Panchayat were arrested by police.The suspects included rapist Ashfaq and the one who gave the order - Haq Nawaz alongwith the girl’s brother Umer Wadda and Saeed lumberdar.The number of arrested suspects has now risen to 24.
