July 12, 2002	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1, 1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, July 11: The police on Thursday informed the supreme court that out of the 15 wanted in the Meerwala case, 13 have been arrested; the other two, thought to be hiding in Karachi or Rajanpur districts, are still at large.

The supreme court bench, headed by Chief Justice Shaikh Riaz, after hearing Deputy Inspector General Police (Dera Ghazi Khan) Asif Nawaz, adjourned the case until July 18.

The supreme court asked the police to continue submitting weekly reports on the arrests and investigation in the gang-rape case.

The DIG stated before the SC bench, comprising Justice Shaikh Riaz Ahmad, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and Justice Qazi Muhammad Farooq, that he would like to continue supervising the investigation to ensure that the culprits were brought to justice.

Advocate Zulfikar Bhutta pointed out to the court that according to press reports SSP Muzaffargarh was pressuring the victim’s family for a compromise.

The DIG assured the court that he would visit Muzaffargarh and look into the matter. If allegations were correct, the SSP would not be spared.

He further informed the court that the victim and her family had been provided police guards, and that they were being fully protected.

He said the gang-rape victim, Mukhtiaran Mai, had been medically examined and was produced in the court where she recorded her statement. Asked whether she supported what had been alleged, the official replied, “almost”, except Faiz Baksh Jatoi involvement, head of the panchayat.

The CJ, appreciating the police officer’s efforts, asked him to submit a challan in the court as early as possible.