Man arrested for ‘attempted rape’

Sub-inspector accused of taking bribe from differently-abled girl’s parents

OKARA:

A man suspected of attempting to rape a disabled girl within the limits of Okara B Division police station has been arrested.

However, the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Omar, is facing action over an allegation of taking a bribe of Rs15,000 from the parents of the girl and demanding more money.

The girl's mother reportedly filed a complaint about the situation that was taken up by DPO Faisal Shehzad. The district police chief suspended the sub-inspector and appointed a DSP as inquiry officer.

The prime minister also took notice of the complaint submitted by the girl's mother on the Citizen Portal. He ordered a transparent investigation into the incident.

The case of attempted rape of the disabled girl was registered at the B Division police station.

The Okara DPO visited the home of the complainant, enquired about the incident from the family and assured them of justice.

According to sources, DPO Shehzad reprimanded the investigating officer for taking bribe and suspended him.

Read PM orders strict action against attempted rape of disabled minor girl

The mother of the disabled girl had lodged a complaint on the Citizen Portal, on which Prime Minister Imran Khan took notice and directed the DPO of Okara to immediately investigate the matter on merit.

Following the PM's instructions, the police have stepped up their investigation.

In an earlier incident, a man suspected of raping a bride in Haji Shahwala area of Shujaabad was killed during an alleged police encounter in Basti Maluk area last month.

Basti Maluk police arrested the suspect Abid Hussain alias Abidi after stopping his motorcycle at a barricade near the Chak 7 bridge.

Weapons and the motorcycle that had been snatched during the incident were recovered. According to sources, the suspect was being taken for recovery of more stolen goods when accomplices of the suspect opened fire on the police near Pareshan Chowk in an attempt to free him.

During a crossfire, the suspected robber was allegedly shot dead by his accomplices. The attackers managed to escape by taking advantage of darkness after retaliatory firing by the police.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2021.