Islamabad: A Pakistani police officer has been praised for his “courageous and risky move” to apprehend a rape suspect and to rescue a five-year-old girl in Sindh’s Kashmore district.
Citizens on social media and government officials hailed Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Muhammad Bux Buriro for his “smart and brave effort” to arrest the man accused of raping a woman and her minor daughter.
The police officer risked the life of his own daughter as a decoy to arrest the criminal who had kidnapped and raped five-year-old Alisha after her mother pleaded for help.
Life in danger
The rapist released Alisha’s mother on the condition that she bring them another girl. When the woman along with the ASI’s daughter contacted the main suspect over the phone, they invited them to a hotel where police arrested one suspect and rescued a minor girl on Thursday. The mother of the victim thanked the ASI for putting his daughter’s life in danger to save her little girl. The detained man was accused of subjecting both the woman and her five-year-old daughter to rape for two days after duping them with a job offer in Kashmore.
Kashmore Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amjad Ali Shaikh confirmed the suspect’s arrest and said both the woman and her daughter were medically examined and their DNA samples were sent for forensic examinations. Both the victims have been shifted to Larkana where the girl is being treated.
On Friday, the Sindh government also praised the bravery and courage of policeman and his daughter duo in making the arrest of Kashmore rape suspect possible.
“Without the bravery and courage of ASI Bux, it would not have been possible to arrest this animal,” Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab said on Friday. To show respect to the police officer, Sindh government has decided to “write a letter to the Centre recommending that Buriro be given the highest police award — the Quaid-i-Azam Police Medal,” he said, adding that he would also be conferred a gallantry award by the provincial government. Sindh government has also announced to bear the cost of his daughter’s education adding that she will also be given a cash award of Rs1 million.
Rape cases increasing
The increasing reports of rape cases in Pakistan have sparked a debate as people are demanding prompt action and activists are calling for police and judicial reforms to ensure the safety of citizens.
Following the outrage on social media, many politicians and officials took notice of the tragic incident. Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said tha had taken strong notice of the “brutal incident”, which had “shocked him personally” and “shamed humanity”. Bilawal asked the Sindh government to ensure that the victims will get justice at any cost and the culprits get exemplary punishment under the law.
Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari said in a tweet that the “horrific Kashmore rape case shows how despite laws a bestial mindset continues to ravage our society, violating our children” adding that “Sindh government must ensure strict enforcement of law.”
Sindh Governor Imran Ismail termed the incident “sickening” and said he was pursuing the case “to ensure the strictest punishment for the criminals” and the best medical treatment and post-trauma care for the child.
