Mandi Bahauddin: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday said she had advised victims of physical assault to respond in kind, while maintaining that those responsible for violence would face action regardless of their political connections.
Addressing a Hon'haar scholarship and laptop distribution ceremony at a university in Mandi Bahauddin, the chief minister said her government would not protect offenders, even if they belonged to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML N).
Maryam also questioned using intimidation to exercise authority.
"Governing through fear is not governance; keep one principle and remain consistent," she said. Her remarks came against the backdrop of several incidents of violence in Punjab, including assaults captured on camera and circulated on social media.
Referring to an incident in Multan in which a man ran over an orphaned teenager, Maryam said the case continued to haunt her. She also cited two incidents in Lahore involving an assault on a woman riding a scooter and an attack on a petrol pump employee.
In the first case, video footage showed a motorcyclist overtaking a woman on a scooter, blocking her path and physically assaulting her on a road in Lahore. Police subsequently arrested the suspect using footage and information collected through cameras operated by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA).
However, a Lahore court later ordered his release if he was not required in connection with another case. The court's order highlighted the distinction between a police arrest and the legal requirements for continued detention, although the information available did not establish the grounds for the release decision.
Petrol pump assault draws attention
In another incident, a petrol pump employee was assaulted at a filling station in Lahore's Jubilee Town after reportedly asking a customer not to smoke on the premises. According to reports, the customer had arrived in an SUV for refuelling when the employee asked him to refrain from smoking. The suspect allegedly left his vehicle, assaulted the employee and departed the scene.
The reported circumstances raised questions about the protection available to workers facing violence while performing their duties.
Government pledges action against offenders
Maryam maintained that her administration would support victims of violence regardless of the identity or political affiliation of those accused. She also said she was not concerned about the possibility of legal cases being registered against her in the future.
Her comments placed the government's response to individual assault cases within a broader discussion about public safety, police intervention and accountability.
Under Pakistan's legal framework, allegations of assault are subject to criminal investigation and judicial proceedings. The Pakistan Penal Code recognises the right of private defence, but it does not authorise unrestricted retaliation once an immediate threat has ended.
The chief minister's call for victims to respond in kind therefore distinguishes lawful self defence from retaliation, which can carry criminal consequences. While Maryam pledged action against offenders, the remarks did not specify additional policing measures, legal reforms or procedures intended to prevent similar incidents.
The cases she cited also illustrate the separate responsibilities of police, prosecutors and courts in determining whether an accused person can be detained, prosecuted or convicted.
