September 09, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 8, 1429

BAHAWALPUR, Sept 8: Ahmadpur East police have booked two people for murder of an 18-year-old girl who died during abortion after being raped for several months, besides two others in a vani case.

According to sources, the case surfaced after one Qazi Syed Liquat Ali Shah filed a complaint last week to the regional police officer (RPO) and the district police officer (DPO), alleging a minor girl, Hafiza Bibi, was married to one Wajid on the orders of a local punchayat (jury) which declared her vani.

On receipt of the complaint, Ahmedpur East DSP Amir Taimoore visited Jhangra East and after a preliminary investigation ordered registration of a case about three days ago.

Police sources told Dawn that one Ismail had been allegedly raping Rabia Bibi (18), daughter of Ghulam Farid, resulting in the victim getting pregnant. Ismail allegedly took her to the private clinic of a quack, Hanif, for abortion, where she along with her seven-month fetus expired during the process.

To cover up the crime, a punchayat headed by a former councilor, Abdul Rahman, was held which decided to vani Hafiza Bibi, a minor sister of the accused. Accordingly, the girl was married to deceased Rabia’s brother Wajid. However, before Rukhsati, the matter was reported to the police.

Police arrested the groom, Wajid, panchayat head Abdul Rahman, quack Hanif and Sabir Husain, while prime accused of the murder Ismail is at large and being looked for.