Murder most foul

Culprits should be put to maximum shame in society

Man behaving like beasts and unfeeling animals. The murder and alleged rape of a 10-year-old girl in Islamabad and the delaying tactics adopted by the local police in registering an FIR bring home this cruel reality. Farishta went missing from outside her home in Shahzad Town on May 15. The family registered a missing person report on May 16. A four-day-old murdered body was found on May 20. The body is believed to be of Farishta, as her family recognised her by the clothes she was wearing. The girl’s father stated in the FIR, registered on May 21, that he and his family asked the police to register an FIR against his daughter’s disappearance on May 15. His family approached the police a number of times requesting them to help find the girl, but instead of giving them a helping hand the SHO told them she might have eloped with someone.

The police also adopted other tactics to discourage the family from registering an FIR. After a delay of several days, the girl’s father registered an FIR against the SHO of Shahzad Town and other police officials on May 21 in connection with the abduction, murder and alleged rape of Farishta. The FIR has been registered under Section 166 (public servant disobeying law with the intent to causing injury to any person) of the PPC. The police registered the FIR after the intervention of an MNA, who took up the case with the Islamabad IG. Samples have been taken for a DNA test to confirm the identity of the body. The police also said samples taken from the body and the place where Farishta was found murdered have been sent for tests to ascertain whether she was subjected to gang rape as alleged by the family.

Imran Ali had been hanged only a few months ago for raping and killing seven-year-old Zainab in Kasur. Even capital punishment could not act as deterrent. Such deadheads should be put to maximum shame in society.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2019.

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