LAHORE: Members of the civil society and people from different walks of life will be holding a protest near the Lahore Press Club (LPC) on Saturday against the highhandedness of police for beating a female curator of a renowned art gallery.

The incident took place before Ramazan, when the SHO entered the Nairang Art Gallery situated on the Jail Road and started abusing the customers, including females. He also physically tortured the female curator of the gallery for wearing a sleeveless shirt and interacting with men as an administrator of the place. He not only physically abused the young curator but also accused the gallery’s administration of spreading obscenity. Also, he abused the customers, including young females, for visiting the gallery to have meals or to watch the artworks on display in the gallery. The Punjab government has finally taken notice of the incident and has constituted an inquiry committee to probe the Nairang incident, Daily Times learnt on Monday. The committee had been constituted by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.

Meanwhile, the said SHO could not be reached for any comment on the incident despite several attempts of contact. However, sources said that the SHO was being criticised within police circles for the inhumane act. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and several other activists condemned the SHO’s action and demanded strict punishment for the accused.

Source: Daily Times

Date:8/9/2011