MUZAFFARGARH: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday suspended regional police officials and directed to arrest the DSP, SHO and investigation officer concerned over negligence in the gang rape case probe.

RPO Dera Ghazi Khan, Abdul Qadir Qayyum and DPO Muzaffargarh, Usman Akram Gondal were suspended for not taking action against the investigations officer concerned during the chief minister’s visit to the residence of the rape victim, who died after she set herself ablaze in protest against a police report which helped her alleged rapist obtain bail.

Sharif visited the house of the deceased in Basti Lundi Patafi here and condoled with her parents. He directed immediate arrest of the DSP, SHO and the investigations officer of Thana Bait Meer Hazar.

A local court had granted bail to the main accused in the alleged rape on Thursday, following which the girl went to the Bait Meer Hazar police station and lodged a protest with an investigation officer for favouring the accused in his report.

She later doused her clothes with petrol and set herself on fire outside the police station in the presence of her younger brother. Some passers-by and policemen had taken her to Jatoi Civil Hospital. She had been later shifted to Nishtar Hospital in Multan because of her critical condition.

Nishtar Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Shaukat Malik said the girl had sustained 80 per cent burns.

According to sources, the 18-year-old girl was returning home from her college on Jan 5 when the accused, along with his four accomplices, allegedly raped her in a deserted area.

Also read: Girl was not raped, Sana tells PA

Speaking to media representatives, the chief minister said that police culture was being revamped and soon positive changes would be visible.

Besides offering a job to the brother of the deceased girl, he announced a compensation of Rs500,000 for the victim’s family.

Provincial ministers Abdul Waheed Arrain and Haroon Sultan Bukhari, MNA Basit Sultan Bukhari, MPAs Qaswar Karim Langrial and Hamad Nawaz Tipo, IG Punjab Police Khan Baig, Additional IG Special Branch Muhammad Amleesh, Additional IG Investigations Khalid Dad Luck, Commissioner Sohail Shahzad, DCO Muzaffargarh Farasat Iqbal and party workers were also present on the occasion.