Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplaces Kashmala Tariq said Tuesday she was being subjected to a media trial because she was serving on an important post and she did not give undue favours to the people, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, she said it was wrong to say that her son was in the driving seat at the time of an accident on Srinagar Highway in Islamabad on Monday night in which four people were crushed to death.
She said she gave voice to the voiceless women. “And when I am subjected to media trial, I wonder as to how I would do justice with my assignment as the federal ombudsman,” she deplored.
Regarding Monday night accident, Kashmala said she was returning to Islamabad from Lahore along with her family in two vehicles that when they reached G-11 chowk they met an accident at around 11pm. “I and my family were in the white car. Usually, we doze off during travelling,” she said, and added, “When the cars collided we went flying and fell on the seats. Blood started oozing from my nose. By that, some precious lives had been lost.”
She refuted the media reports that she was travelling in a convoy.
The federal ombudsman said there could be no substitute for the loss of lives. “I prayed for them a lot. Even I and my family could have been in their place instead,” she remarked.
She regretted that media was portraying as if she and her family had fled following the incident. “Please see the footage from the Safe City camera,” she asked the media.
She rejected the allegations being levelled against her husband and son as baseless. “Let the law take its course. But the media should refrain from levelling baseless allegations against us,” she said emphatically.
She appealed to the prime minister to obtain footage of the incident from FWO so that true picture could emerge.
At least four friends were crushed to death by a speeding Land Cruiser owned by the husband of Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Kashmala Tariq on the Srinagar Highway in Islamabad on Monday night.
Kashmala Tariq’s son, Azlan Khan, has been named in the FIR. According to the police, the Land Cruiser was being driven by Azlan when the accident took place at Sector G11 signal.
Kashmala Tariq and her husband Waqas Khan were inside the vehicle when the accident occurred.
Police, however, have not yet arrested Kashmala’s son Azlan. According to sources, they have arrested Waqas Khan’s driver.