IG orders province-wide hunt for ‘motorway rapist’

Police chief issues direction after failure of 28 special police teams to apprehend prime suspect

LAHORE:

Frustrated by the failure of 28 special teams of CIA, CTD and Special Branch in arresting the prime suspect of the Lahore-Sialkot motorway incident, Punjab IGP Inam Ghani has ordered police of all 36 districts of the province to search for him.

The IGP assigned every district security branch the task to search for the alleged rapist.

The orders issued by Ghani read, “The IGP has directed all field formations to activate each member of the district security branches (DSB) concerned to search and inspect all probable hideouts to assist in the arrest of the said accused.”

He asked all the field formations to search all possible sanctuaries throughout Punjab.

It stated that in the investigation of the case registered in Gujjarpura police station, one of the prime accused was identified as Muhammad Abid Malhi, son of Muhammad Akbar, who is still absconding. There is every probability that the accused might have disguised himself while hiding in some place.

The IGP further said that photographs and sketches of the accused had been sent with the letter. “In order to broadcast the basic information compendium on all cable networks, a small TVC is also being emailed to all regions.”

Ghani has also ordered the field formations to ensure strict compliance and keep a functional liaison with the special investigation team headed by Lahore DIG Investigations Shehzada Sultan.

The IGP had formed a six-member special investigations team comprising of SSP Investigations Zeeshan Asghar, SP CIA Muhammad Asim, Lahore CTD RO, Special Branch RO and Civil Lines Anti-Gender Based Violence Cell incharge, which was led by the DIG.

At least 28 teams of CTD, Special Branch, Lahore CIA and Lahore Police’s top investigators had been working under them to nab the accused.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2020.