LAHORE — Police authorities have suspended 78 officers following the arrest of an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) accused of sexually assaulting a mentally ill girl in the provincial capital. The move is a rare, sweeping disciplinary action triggered by the failure of the chain of command to prevent the crime or report it promptly.
The accused officer, stationed at a local station in Lahore, allegedly targeted the girl earlier this week. Investigators say the victim, who struggles with mental health issues, was unable to raise an alarm until bystanders intervened. The incident sparked immediate public outrage, forcing the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) to launch an internal inquiry that quickly expanded beyond the primary suspect.
The mass suspension—covering officers from the rank of constable to sub-inspector—centers on “criminal negligence.” Senior police officials told reporters that those sidelined were either present at the station during the incident or were responsible for the sector where the assault occurred. The department’s official stance is that the sheer number of officers failing to notice or report the incident points to a systemic breakdown in station oversight.
“We aren’t just looking at the individual who committed the act,” a senior officer familiar with the investigation said. “We are looking at why 78 people either looked the other way or were so incompetent they didn’t know what was happening under their own roof.”
The accused ASI remains in custody, facing charges under the Pakistan Penal Code, including sections related to rape and abuse of authority. Forensic teams have collected evidence from the station, and the victim is currently undergoing medical evaluation.
For the Lahore police, this is a crisis of credibility. The department has long faced criticism over its handling of sensitive cases involving vulnerable victims. By suspending nearly four-score officers in a single stroke, the department is attempting to signal a shift in accountability.
However, rights activists remain skeptical. They argue that suspension is a temporary administrative measure, not justice. They are now pressing for a transparent trial, fearing that internal police politics could lead to the reinstatement of the suspended officers once the public outcry dies down.
For now, the station in question is operating with a skeleton crew of newly transferred staff. The investigation is ongoing, and the police high command has promised that those found complicit in the cover-up will face permanent dismissal from service.
