A police team constituted to investigate the Uzma Ayub rape case has widened its probe by collecting blood samples of the main witness in the case for DNA tests, The Express Tribune has learnt.
When contacted, Uzma’s brother, Zafran, confirmed the development.
Sources familiar with the investigation said that Zafran had submitted an application to the Peshawar High Court, seeking a court bar on investigators to collect blood samples of Jamal Anwar, the main eyewitness in the case. Zafran called it a plot to trap Jamal.
However, an investigator told The Express Tribune that it was necessary as a part of the probe to collect Jamal’s blood samples for DNA test.
“Not just Jamal, we can take blood samples of any person as required for the probe because we are investigating the case from different angles. We want to solve the case and bring the culprits to justice,” a member of the probe team said.
The DNA test results of six accused, Uzma herself and her daughter Zeba, have been received and handed over to PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan. Only the chief justice can open the envelope containing the test results.
But a relative of one of the accused told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity that blood samples of other accused persons have also been collected and sent for DNA test.
Bilqisam Jana, Uzma’s mother, nominated 13 persons, including three police officials, for allegedly kidnapping and raping her daughter while registering a case at the Takht-e-Nusrati police station in Karak district.
Zafran accused five people, including a police official, of killing his brother.
Four persons – Assistant Sub-Inspector Hakim Shah, Javed Shah, Rehmat Shah and Abdul Wahid – were arrested by the police. However, Ibrahim Shah, a brother of the accused Hakim Shah, managed to escape and is still at large.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 17th, 2012.
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This will happen to you, when you will try to do your job honestly. Hakeem Shah, is one of the brave police officers of Karak districts. His name was sign of fear for the criminals. Although I didn't saw Hakeem Shah but many people like me are familiar with his stories of bravery and catching different criminals and murders and putting hands on some powerfull actors. This is why he is involved in this bad situation. It is true that the brother of this lady was shot dead by the brother of Hakeem Shah but bcz of the anger that his honest and brave brother was wrongly blamed. I hope and pray that DNA tests will make the situation clear and he will be released very soon. I also request ET to investigate this story from the residents of Karak district and tell the truth to the people otherwise people like Hakeem shah will not come forward to curb criminals from the society.