MULTAN, May 6: Police registered two separate cases under the Hudood Ordinance on Thursday after the surfacing of an alleged panchayat-enforced rape in Kabirwala area of Khanewal district.

Kabirwala Sadar police registered a case on the report of Muhammad Nawaz Mussali of Dinga Naich village against six people, including alleged perpetrator, Ghaffar Jeer, and three panchayat members that ordered rape of his daughter 'Mz' (18) and daughter-in-law 'Md' (30) on April 30.

The other case was registered on the report of accused Ghaffar's daughter 'S', who alleged that Nawaz's son Riaz had raped her with the abetment of his sister-in-law Shamim on April 24 last.

According to the details gleaned by this correspondent, both Nawaz Mussali and Ghaffar Jeer were the tenants of landlord Malik Afzal Naich. Nawaz's son Riaz, who worked as a labourer in Karachi, came to his family in the third week of April to help in wheat harvesting.

On April 24, Ghaffar's sister Hameeda informed her brother that she had seen his daughter 'S' and Riaz together in a room of Nawaz's house. At this, Ghaffar and some other people rushed to the Nawaz's house but Riaz managed to flee by breaking the room window. Ghaffar and his family protested against the incident before their landlord and vowed to avenge the humiliation.

Malik Afzal said he pacified enraged Ghaffar and assured him that the area elders would look into the matter. He said that he had also provided shelter to the Nawaz family at his place to save them from the wrath of Ghaffar and his family until the matter was resolved 'amicably'.

He said area elders Haji Najmal, Haji Sultan and Ahmed Nawaz gathered at Ghaffar's house on April 30 to decide the matter. The elders also called him (Malik Afzal) to join the panchayat proceedings.

Malik Afzal said that Ghaffar wanted a 'befitting' punishment while the elders directed him to bring Nawaz's daughter 'Mz' (18) and make her to seek apology from Ghaffar for the act of her brother.

However, her sister-in-law 'Md' also came along with her in the panchayat. Afzal said Ghaffar dragged both the girls to a room when he approached the place where the panchayat was sitting.

After a few moments, both the girls raised an alarm for help. Hearing their hue and cry, Afzal said he protested before the panchayat elders that Ghaffar had gone beyond his verdict.

He said at this the panchayat ordered Ghaffar to come out of the room along with the two girls. Khanewal's acting DPO Saadullah Khan confirmed both the incidents and said the police had registered two separate FIRs.

He said Ghaffar's daughter 'S' had accused Riaz of locking her in a room with help of his sister-in-law Shamim as the latter called her in their house. The acting DPO said he had ordered medical examination of 'Mz', 'Md' and 'S'.

The medical examination of both 'Mz' and 'Md' was under way at the Nishter Hospital at the time of filing of this report at 10pm. While the medical examination of 'S' would be conducted at the Kabirwala Tehsil Hospital.

Police arrested Ghaffar's brother Zahoor who was accused of abetment along with Haji Sultan, Haji Najmal, Ahmed Nawaz and Bashir Ahmed. While Nawaz's son Riaz had left the area the day he was spotted with 'S'. Acting DPO Saadullah Khan said all the accused involved in both the cases would be arrested soon.