ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that police personnel involved in baton-charging the participants of Aurat March (Women's Day March) in Islamabad have been suspended.

“Moreover, other persons responsible for misbehavior are also being identified, and proper action will be taken against them too,” he announced in a tweet on Wednesday. The incident has sparked outrage and condemnation from politicians and activists alike. In a statement on his Twitter account, Sanaullah earlier said that he had taken strict notice of the behaviour and that the Islamabad IG Police had been summoned.

He further added that strict legal action would be taken against those responsible for the mistreatment of the participants of the women's march. Climate Change Minister Senator Sherry Rehman also expressed her outrage and demanded an inquiry into the incident. "There is no excuse for this. That too on Int'l Women's Day.

This is not what we fought for and will not tolerate it," she wrote on her Twitter handle. In an earlier tweet, Rehman said that the participants of the march were rightfully upset and that the police had no business charging a small peaceful procession. "It is the women holding laathis that need to be pushed back, not progressive women. Sad to see this happening. Will seek an inquiry," she further said. Videos show a bitter exchange between the Superintendent of Police (SP) Nausherwan and the attendees of the march.

Following the incident, Director Inspector General (DIG) Operations Shahzad Nadeem Bukhari soon arrived at the location.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 09 2023

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