The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to seek help from media so as to bring the culprits involved in harassing women during the party’s Foundation Day rally to book, Pakistan Today has learnt.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan was so perturbed by the unfortunate incident that he instantly constituted a four-member committee headed by PTI Central Information Secretary Naeemul Haq tasked with punishing those who had harassed women during the rally. Other members of the committee include Nafeesa Khattak, Col (retd) Younus Ali Raza and Talat Naqvi.
According to sources, the committee members interviewed the party’s members responsible for the management of the public gathering.
The committee examined the video and photographic evidence of the incident and took down the statements of eyewitness and the organisers while probing the matter.
Eventually, however, the committee decided in principle to seek assistance from the media and those who cover the events, and ask them to share video evidence with the committee so that the culprits can be punished.
“The PTI chairman wants punishment for those involved in the incident; hence he strictly advised the committee to gather concrete and solid evidences so that the culprits do not escape punishment again,” party sources said.
They said that Imran Khan’s disappointment could be judged from the fact that he tendered an apology for the harassment of his party’s women supporters at the Foundation Day rally.
It is pertinent to mention here that a stampede-like situation was witnessed during PTI’s 20th Foundation Day rally at F-9 Park on April 24 when some of the male supporters forced their way into a women’s section by breaching a security cordon. TV footage also showed male participants harassing women workers at the rally.
The committee has been directed to submit a comprehensive report over the matter within seven days.