KARACHI: While police investigators have yet to achieve any significant breakthrough in the case of a six-year-old girl’s rape, it was decided on Saturday that DNA samples of the three suspects, who had been picked up from her neighbourhood in Korangi on intelligence reports, would be sent to a forensic lab in Jamshoro.

The DNA samples of the rape survivor, who has regained consciousness, were earlier sent to the forensic, toxicology and molecular biology lab at the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, for examination on Saturday, according to Kamal Din, investigation officer at the Ibrahim Hyderi police station.

“The girl has gained consciousness and is in stable condition now,” said Dr Zulfiqar Siyal, the medical superintendent of the Civil Hospital Karachi.

However, she was still at the trauma centre where an ENT surgeon examined her, he added.

On the directives of DIG East Arif Hanif, only her close relatives (parents) are being allowed to see her at the hospital due to security reasons. The girl, a resident of Labour Colony in Korangi 2-1/2, was raped before being dumped into a drain near Korangi Crossing on Thursday evening but the child — with her throat slit and bruises on her body — survived and was rushed to a hospital where she was operated upon. The following day Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar took suo motu notice of the alleged rape and torture and directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sindh, to submit a detailed report within 48 hours.

To review progress in the investigation of the rape and attempted murder of the girl, IGP A.D. Khowaja chaired a meeting of officials concerned on Saturday.

The police chief said he had directed the investigators to focus on modern methods of probe instead of relying on traditional methods.

The IGP also talked to her parents and requested them to help the police investigators to identify the suspects.

“Three suspects have been detained for questioning,” he said while speaking to Dawn.

He said the held persons belonged to the same neighbourhood where the victim, along with her family, resided.

The police chief said DNA samples of the suspects would be taken and sent to forensic lab while their photos would also be shown to the girl when she recovered from trauma. Malir SP (Investigation) Malik Altaf said: “Some suspects have been taken into custody but so far no breakthrough has been achieved in the case.”

The suspects had been detained on the basis of intelligence reports, said the senior police officer.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2017