Police to become complainant in case to investigate death of female cricketer

Haleema Rafiq reportedly committed suicide 13 months after levelling harassment charges against top officials of MCC.

MULTAN: After the family of a 17-year-old female cricketer, who reportedly committed suicide, did not file a case to investigate her death, police on Wednesday decided to become the complainant instead, Express News reported.

Haleema Rafiq, a resident of Multan and a fast-bowler on the national women’s cricket team, reportedly committed suicide on the night of July 14, around 13 months after she and four other cricketers had levelled harassment charges against top officials of the Multan Cricket Council (MCC).

Police had asked Haleema's family to register a complaint at the station by 12pm on July 15 but they failed to do so, leading to the police's decision to act as the applicant in the case to investigate the matter.

According to sources, Haleema's body will be exhumed to conduct post-mortem examination.

On July 14, Haleema had drank acid used to sterilise toilets and lost consciousness. She was taken to Nishtar Hospital, where she breathed her last.

Haleema was buried on July 15 and police officials had said family members had declined a post-mortem. At the same time, the police had said that they would be an applicant in a case to conduct a postmortem, if necessary.

More than a year ago, Haleema and five other female cricketers had accused officials of the MCC of sexual harassment. The cricketers had told the media that the officials demanded sexual favours in exchange for selection in the team.