Speaking on a news channel, Sheikh questioned the choices of the rape survivor, saying the woman should have taken a different route –a less deserted one– and checked her petrol tank before embarking on her journey. Sheikh said that he was surprised that the woman — a mother of three travelling alone at night– chose to travel via Ring Road instead of taking the GT Road that was relatively ‘safe’.
The statement of the police officer caused a strong reaction on Twitter, resulting in #RemoveCCPOLahore becoming one of the top trends.
In a statement on Twitter, Hassaan Niazi, who is a lawyer, asked CM Usman Buzdar to remove the police officer.
He is Umar Sheikh @CcpoLahore who blamed the rape victim for being raped. #RemoveCCPOLahore - @UsmanAKBuzdar if you are not of same mindset then you must take action for his shocking Statement pic.twitter.com/GOkAoSxos9
— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) September 10, 2020
Senator Sehar Kamran said the CCPO being a 'political appointee' doesn't care about crimes on streets.
And he #CCPOLahore has well defined “Duties” target political opponents ......?
Who cares about crimes on the streets #MotorwayIncident
CCPO has a theory, women stay at home or they be held responsible #AccuseVictim #RemoveCCPOLahore
#WarAgainstRape https://t.co/fb4aryd10p
— Senator Sehar Kamran T.I. (@SeharKamran) September 10, 2020
Journalist Marium Chaudhry demanded his removal for victim-blaming.
THIS MAN NEEDS TO BE REMOVED NOW. HOW DARE HE BLAME THE VICTIM? #Motorway #motorwayincident pic.twitter.com/GVRpjbactx
— Marium Chaudhry (@MariumCh) September 10, 2020
Samar Minallah said the police officer was 'heartless' for making such 'sick' remarks.
Blaming a rape victim for travelling alone at night with her kids is nothing but heartless, sick and insensitive.
THIS is the mindset that lets violence against women thrive & lets the criminal go scott-free! #SHAME #motorwayincident#Motorway https://t.co/kFod78ojgo
— Samar MinAllah Khan (@SamarMinallahKh) September 10, 2020
Imaan Zainab Mazari said the Punjab Police do not need any 'rape apologists' in this position.
??
CCPO Umar Sheikh should be sacked immediately. Women across the country must raise their voices against him. We dont need rape apologists in positions tasked with protecting the public. https://t.co/1XGveArrLV
— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) September 10, 2020
Responding to the CCPO's statement, Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari said that the ministry has taken up this issue, as nothing can ever 'rationalise the crime of rape'.
For an officer to effectively blame a woman for being gang raped by saying she should have taken the GT Road or question as to why she went out in the night with her children is unacceptable & have taken up this issue. Nothing can ever rationalise the crime of rape. That's it.
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) September 10, 2020