DISCLAIMER: A picture of the survivor has been used while respecting her decision to come forward and making her voice heard
A police team has been formed to probe the kidnapping and week-long torture of a woman lawyer, Advocate Irshad Nasreen, who was recovered from Mailsi, the district police officer (DPO) has said.
The DPO, while formally announcing the woman’s recovery, said the special team, comprising the superintendent of police (SP) for investigation, Shamsul Haq, and two deputy superintendents of police (DSPs), was tasked with searching for and arresting the kidnappers.
The police officer noted that a FIR [First Information Report] — including charges of kidnapping — was registered on behalf of the woman’s son on August 22.
The special team was investigating the case in light of her recorded statement, Geo quoted the cop as saying.
The woman has been shifted to the Dipalpur Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital, the police officer said.
A resident of Dipalpur, police had earlier told media that Nasreen was recovered in a semi-conscious state from a field near Dhoda Road in Mailsi. She was found with her hands and legs tied and unable to speak.
The day she was recovered, police said she told them she had been kidnapped from her office by unidentified men on August 14.
A viral video that followed her recovery showed the lawyer in a traumatised state.
Further investigation was underway, police added.
On Monday, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan also reportedly took notice of the incident after the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) issued a statement condemning incidents of targeted killings, kidnappings and incidents of torture of lawyers.
In the statement, PBC Vice Chairperson Abid Saqi strongly condemned the incident, saying the increasing lawlessness in Pakistan was extremely concerning. Five lawyers have been shot dead in targeted killing so far, including four in Punjab and one in Sindh, he said.
Three lawyers in Lahore, Pakpattan, Sialkot were kidnapped and tortured, Saqi added.
The PBC official said the torture and abduction of the woman lawyer was extremely worrisome. The woman lawyer, he added, was tortured continuously for six days after her abduction.
She was recovered in a very critical condition in the fields in Mailsi, he added.
Saqi further said these incidents of violence have made lawyers vulnerable and their safety compromised. The government’s indifference to targeted killings, kidnappings, and violence in just three weeks was reprehensible, he added.
It was the duty of the government and the administration to improve the law and order situation, he said, lamenting that the incumbent leadership had failed to protect its citizens.
The official said the current situation called into question the ability of the government. He demanded action against those involved in the targeted killings, kidnapping, and torture of lawyers.
Meanwhile, according to reports, she was once kidnapped earlier in October 2019 as well.
