LAHORE: Police teams investigating the rape of a five-year-old girl took four suspects into custody for interrogation on Saturday with the help of CCTV footage and other clues. The victim was still not completely stable and was under treatment at the Services Hospital.

Lahore police chief Chaudhry Shafique Ahmad told Dawn that no prime suspect had been identified yet. He said a couple of suspects picked up on Friday were released on Saturday after being declared innocent.

Mr Ahmad said the girl’s condition was critical and she had yet to give her statement.

Abdul Rab Chaudhry, SSP (Investigation), said two police teams, led by the Crimes Investigation Agency SP and the Civil Lines SP (Investigation), were working on the case.

He said the process for DNA tests had been initiated, but the number of rapists could not be determined at this point.

The SSP said a police team was also quizzing the residents of Ghousia Colony, Mughalpura, where the victim lived. A doctor said the provisional report had confirmed that rape did take place. The final report would be issued on the basis of the opinion of gynaecologists and surgeons as well as tests of specimens of bloodstains.

Punjab Health Minister Khalil Tahir Sindhu told reporters that a team of senior doctors was treating the girl and the government would consider sending her abroad if a need arose.