News Analysis |
Fauzia Haroon, a woman who was allegedly beaten up at her home in Lahore at the behest of her daughter and son-in-law over a property dispute has now demanded justice from Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. A few days ago in a viral video, a woman was seen being severely beaten up by a group of men accompanied by a woman who happened to be the daughter of Mrs Haroon.
According to local media reports, the victim is the widow of an assassinated minorities’ minister Derek Cyprian. She alleges that one of her two daughters, Hina, her son-in-law, Samuel, and a land grabber, Amir Ali, have been harassing, abusing and terrorizing her because of a dispute over her house in Lahore, which she (the victim) claims to have inherited from her slain husband.
According to local media reports, the victim is the widow of an assassinated minorities’ minister Derek Cyprian.
She also clarified that she has approached the police multiple times but nothing was done against the culprits. “They have been abusing me despite the legal proceedings. I have a whole record of complaints to police. I used to call 15 [the emergency contact number]. I registered my complaints online, but to no avail,” she told media.
Talking about the incident, she said, “Last Sunday [March 31], I was alone at home. They came in the morning and started abusing me. They are barred by a stay order [preventing them from going] to the first floor, so I sat inside along with my servants. Then Amir Gujjar [the alleged land grabber] came in and started threatening me. I never thought it could get so serious.”
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As it generally happens in most cases, the powerful attackers have also threatened the victim not to approach anyone, and witnesses were advised not to give statements against them. “Before leaving, they threatened me saying we are just going to finish you off if you do not transfer this house to us,” she said, adding that they had also warned her domestic employees against recording witness statements in her favour.
According to local media reports, the victim is the widow of an assassinated minorities’ minister Derek Cyprian.
Alleged Land Grabber
It is pertinent to mention here that alleged land-grabber Mr Amir Ali is the son of MPA Ilyas Gujjar. Mr Gujjar was accused of beating up a boy in 2010 who was a classmate of Mr Gujjar’s son and won a race competition at Forman Christian College, Lahore. In a talk-show, the anchor had asked Mr Gujjar that how he dared beating up an innocent boy with the help of his brother who happened to be Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP).
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Mr Gujjar left the program and preferred not to answer. Now Mr Amir Ali, son of Mr Ilyas, is allegedly a local land-grabber who not only broke the arm of Ms Fouzia Haroon but also repeatedly tortured and humiliated her before everyone present in the house.
Since the attackers are powerful and apparently have control over local police, the victim, therefore, demands immediate steps to be taken for her safety ‘before it is too late’. The elderly woman kept on weeping and requesting that she had nobody to live with, and her only hope is the CM and PM of Pakistan.