Rape victim’s mother seeks Punjab CM’s intervention

Says police not arresting influential suspects; nine-year-old Zainab was killed on Monday

RAWALPINDI:

The mother of nine-year-old Zainab, who was killed after an alleged sexual assault in Rawalpindi on Monday night, has appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to intervene in the case, citing police inefficiency.

Meanwhile, police registered an FIR of the incident and detained two more suspects including the wife of the neighbour on Wednesday. The apprehended man has been identified as Rana Adnan. According to the case details, Aniqa, wife of the main suspect Babar Masih, had allegedly perpetrated the sexual assault at her house.

According to Shumaila Gul, police were not cooperating with her, saying the law enforcement agency had arrested only two out of the four suspects.

The minor girl's mother said that the two who had not been arrested were influential figures. She went on to add that she would commit suicide soon if she is not assisted in the matter and given justice. Gul also demanded that those accused in the case should be hanged publicly for their heinous crime.

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A day ago, protesters blocked the Rawalpindi airport road and attempted to barge into the Civil Lines police station following the incident.

The murder was committed in the Jhanda Chechi area of the district where the girl had gone missing after she left her home to go to a nearby shop. Her body was later found from under the bed of her family's neighbour.

The police earlier detained a suspect, identified as Babar Masih, following the incident and moved him to the said police station, where the protesters gathered to protest.

As per the initial police investigation, the minor was sexually assaulted before being killed. The LEA said that that the post-mortem report could ascertain the suspicion and the cause of death.

Police also said that the suspect, Babar Masih, was being questioned, adding that his DNA sample will also be sent for a test.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2021.