LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the Pakpattan district and sessions judge to file a fresh report related to the police report under Section 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) before the trial court regarding the gang rape of a girl.

According to a handout issued on Tuesday, the LHC sought a report from the district and sessions judge within a week in order to get the investigation of the case done in a transparent manner.

The handout says the alleged rape victim, a resident of village 25-EB, went to Arifwala with the suspect to get financial assistance of the Benazir Income Support Programme. The suspect took her to some unidentified place where he along with two other accomplices raped her.

After cognizance of the LHC Complaint Cell on administrative side, the district and sessions judge submitted that the police registered a case against the suspects declaring them innocent.

“But the complainant is completely dissatisfied with the investigation of the case as well as conduct of the investigation officer,” says the handout.

It says: “The police claimed holding of investigations fairly. The victim could not substantiate her allegations against the nominated accused. However, the police record reveals that the victim was medically examined after a lapse of two days and the samples were obtained by the concerned medical officer for chemical examination as well as DNA test. But without receiving the reports, local police declared the suspects innocent merely on the basis of circumstantial evidence, which cannot be called fair investigation.”

The sessions judge observed that the investigation officer should have waited for the report and then in the light of that report, he could form any definite opinion regarding innocence of the culprits.

The judge has directed the Pakpattan district police officer to take notice of the incident as well as the defective investigation and to proceed against the investigation officer in accordance with law.

The complaint cell has directed the Pakpattan D&SJ to immediately comply with the orders regarding submission of a fresh report within a week.”