Bribery claims rock housemaid rape probe
The Investigation Officer of Sadiqabad Police Station, who was probing the case involving the alleged rape of a 13-year-old domestic worker was suspended from service for allegedly declaring the real accused innocent and falsely implicating a male domestic worker. The victim is reportedly seven months pregnant.
Sub-Inspector Taimoor Waqar, has been suspended and directed to report to the police lines following serious allegations that he accepted a substantial bribe, declared the original accused innocent after arrest, and instead falsely implicated a 15-year-old domestic worker, Abdul Wahab, who had joined the household only four months ago.
A formal inquiry against the officer has been initiated, and a female SI has been appointed as the new investigation officer, with orders to conduct the probe afresh.
Meanwhile, the DNA test of the arrested minor Abdul Wahab has been completed in Lahore. Upon his appearance before Duty Civil Judge Talal Arshad, the court was informed by the investigation officer that the DNA examination had been carried out and that the investigation was complete, with no further physical custody required.
The court consequently remanded the accused to judicial custody at Adiala Jail, directing that he be produced again on February 10, along with submission of the challan (charge sheet).
During court proceedings, the accused's father and maternal uncle also appeared and submitted applications revealing significant new claims. Abdul Wahab's uncle, Muhammad Ashraf, formally requested a reinvestigation, stating that his nephew had started working at the residence of the house owner, Adil, only four months ago, whereas the victim is seven months pregnant and had reportedly been employed at the same household for two to three years. He further stated that the FIR initially named the house owner Adil as the principal accused, who was arrested but later declared innocent and released, while his nephew — who, according to the family, had never even seen the victim — was subsequently arrested instead.
The victim's non-relative guardian, Ghulam Fatima, who had brought the girl from Faisalabad to Rawalpindi, has also reportedly gone missing, along with the house owner. The accused's uncle levelled bribery allegations against the suspended IO, claiming that Rs20,000 was taken from him for transporting the accused from Rawalpindi Police Station to the Lahore Forensic Laboratory for DNA testing.
He alleged that the vehicle used belonged to the original accused, Adil, who also paid for the fuel, and that both the victim and her guardian were released after the acceptance of a bribe.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, another uncle, Shafiq, demanded a fresh investigation and stated that the family intended to approach the Chief Minister in Lahore to seek justice.
Defence counsel Rizwan Advocate said that this was a straightforward criminal matter, noting that according to the medical board, the victim is seven months pregnant, while the arrested accused joined the household only four months agoindicating that the alleged offence occurred prior to his employment.
(Name withheld to protect the victim's identity)