Rape, murder cases: PHC CJ takes suo motu notice of the tragic incidents

Orders suspension of district police officer.

PESHAWAR:

Taking suo motu notice of the ordeal of a rape victim from Karak, whose brother was gunned down while escorting her to court, chief justice Peshawar High Court (PHC) has given the police 24 hours to take action against the accused.

PHC Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan summoned the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police chief, home secretary and advocate general and ordered the suspension of District Police Officer Karak Sajid Muhammad, during the hearing. He directed that a show cause notice be issued to Deputy Inspector General Kohat Masud Khan Afridi.

Khan constituted two committees to investigate the incident and ordered the police to provide maximum security to the rape victim. The police has meanwhile arrested 10 accused persons, while three police officials are already under investigation for their alleged involvement in the rape.

Khan asked Inspector General of Police Akbar Khan Hoti to explain why the DPO had not been suspended. “The police has crossed the red lines,” he said. The department was concentrating on security for Muharram which is why it could not make progress in the case, the IG replied. He reprimanded the police for inaction and said we have a record of police involvement in criminal cases. “Police have been assisting all the accused. Why did police personnel protest against the court’s decision and chant slogans in favour of the accused police officials?”

Sakina* a rape victim, had approached the PHC, a day after she escaped from her abductors in Bannu, while she was being sold to potential buyers, on October 13. She alleged she had been kidnapped in 2010 and kept for seven months and subsequently handed over to another group which confined her for another three months and continuously raped during this period. K-P chief minister had taken notice of the issue and constituted a three-member inquiry committee to assist the police investigation team.

The inquiry committee had found flaws in the rape investigation, requested formation of a medical board and recommended DNA tests for the pregnant victim and the alleged rapists to determine the parentage of the foetus. Eight days later, Jahanzeb, Sakina’s petitioner, was murdered.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2011.