5th suspect in video case sent to jail

Arrest made because Usman Mirza and his accomplices had mentioned his name

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad District Judiciary has sent the fifth suspect arrested in the case of making obscene videos, torture, and blackmailing a couple in the limits of ​​Golra police station, to jail for an identity parade.

During the hearing on Friday, the police covered the suspect’s face and produced him in the court under tight security. The investigation officer (IO) Shafqat told the court that the identity of the suspect was not known due to which the plaintiffs have to identify him.

Judicial Magistrate West Waqar Gondal asked on what basis was the suspect arrested. The IO said that the prime suspect in the case, Usman Mirza, and other accomplices have mentioned his name.

The court sent the suspect to jail for an identity parade upon the police’s request.

It may be recalled that four offenders have already been arrested in the case. Mirza, Ataur Rehman, and Farhan are under police custody till July 13 while the fourth suspect, Qayyum Butt, will remain in custody till July 12.

Judicial Magistrate has issued a written order of the hearing on July 9 when Mirza, Ataur Rehman, and Farhan were produced before the court. The order stated that the investigating officer requested the court for a week-long physical remand of Mirza, Rehman, and Farhan, but the court granted only four days.

Read PM mobilises team in sexual assault video case

The court wrote that the police had provided reasons for further physical remand, including the recovery of obscene videos, mobile phones, and weapons used in the incident. It added that determination of the date and place of the incident is also crucial for the case.

The police also requested the remand to find out the motives behind the crime and the role of each suspect in it.

A few days ago, police arrested the prime suspect in Islamabad after a harrowing video of him torturing and stripping a couple went viral online.

The matter came to light after a disturbing sequence of events of the brazen attack was captured by video, showing the suspect breaking into an apartment and unleashing the assault.

The prime suspect, Usman Mirza and three of his accomplices - Hafiz Ataur Rehman, Farhan Shaheen Awan and Madras Butt –were taken into custody and charged with sexual assault.

The incident has ignited widespread outrage online over the country’s longstanding problems with sexual violence, prompting a swift response from Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Qazi Jamilur Rehman who immediately directed SSP Operations Dr Syed Mustafa Tanveer to ensure the arrest of the suspects at the earliest.

The Facebook video helped the police team to identify the suspects and gather information about Mirza’s real estate office situated right in front of the flat where the incident allegedly took place. In addition, the investigation also discovered Mirza’s ‘guest house’ where sexual assault was routinely filmed and then used as a blackmailing tool against victims.

On Friday, a high-level police investigation team was mobilised to probe the case after Prime Minister Imran Khan directed IG Qazi Jameelur Rehman to ensure that the culprits face an exemplary punishment.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2021.