Muzaffargarh rape case: Police negligence led to victim's death, says SC

Court asks Punjab IGP to submit a report on the case in 10 days.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court said that the suicide of the Muzaffargarh rape victim was a result of police negligence and carelessness, Express News reported on Monday.

The police could have saved the rape victim but they did not do so, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain said during the hearing of the Muzaffargarh rape case in the Supreme Court.

In its initial order, the court told Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khan Baig to form a three-member committee headed by Additional IG Investigation to further investigate the matter and submit a report on the case in 10 days.

A sessions judge also sent investigating officer Rana Zulfiqar on three-day physical remand. The officer, who had earlier said that that the accused were innocent and that’s why they were released on bail, was apprehended on March 16 under the Anti-Terrorism Act and was presented before the court today.

Assault case

The 18-year-old rape victim had set herself on fire on March 13 in front of the Mir Hazar Khan police station after hearing that the suspects who had allegedly raped her were granted bail. With 70% of her body burnt, the girl had succumbed to her injuries on March 14 in the hospital.

On March 16, the police had also rounded up the main suspect Nadir Hussain and had secured his three-day judicial remand for further investigation and recovery of ammunition.

Three policemen were also rounded up on March 16, a day after Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had ordered their arrest on charges of criminal negligence and failing to investigate the rape in Muzaffargarh.

On March 14, Shahbaz had also given a cheque for Rs 500,000 to the mother of the victim and announced that her brother would be given a job.