July 19, 2002	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 8, 1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

ISLAMABAD, July 18: The Supreme Court directed the Anti-Terrorism Court, Dera Ghazi Khan, on Thursday to proceed with Meerwala, Muzaffargarh, gangrape case on day-to-day basis and conclude it within three weeks.

The Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Shaikh Riaz, after hearing the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DG Khan, Asif Nawaz, decided to keep the suo moto case pending.

The police official informed the court that after the completion of investigation into the incident, the challan was scrutinised by the chief prosecutor and was being submitted before the ATC, DG Khan.

He said all the accused had been arrested. On the last hearing, he had said that two accused were still at large and the police were making efforts to nab them.

The prosecution is likely to demand death for four rapists, booked under Section 10(4) of the offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) and under Section 6 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The remaining accused, a policemen and members of punchayat have been booked for abetment.

According to a recent Supreme Court ruling, if the allegation of gangrape is proved, no other punishment except death can be awarded as the law prescribed only capital punishment. The accused have also been charged with dishonouring the victim by stripping her naked.

The police official said one policeman, an ASI, was booked on the charges of abetment. He said it was a considered view of the police officials that if the ASI, who was in picture, had acted timely, the incident could have been avoided.

The SC bench in its order said it received “a Fax message and the same was transmitted to the DIG and he has offered his comments.”

The court observed that since the trial was going to commence, in the peculiar circumstances of the instant case, “We direct the DIG, the public prosecutor as well as the learned judge seized of the trial to proceed therewith on day-to-day basis so that the trial is concluded within three weeks time.

“Report about the progress of the trial judge shall be transmitted to this court by the trial Judge.”

The court ordered that the petition shall remain pending.