RAWALPINDI: A woman who alleged that she was raped by four people including three police officials has disputed her earlier statement recorded with the magistrate, telling the court that she wanted to record another statement because she had previously been pressured.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Saddar Circle Rai Mazhar Iqbal called a hurried press briefing after the woman spoke before area magistrate, saying that they were with the victim and justice would be done. He said complete investigation would be carried out to ascertain whether the victim was being pressured.

Mr Iqbal said that soon after the victim lodged her complaint, all three of the police officials she named as well as the fourth suspect were arrested. The victim recorded her statement in the court of area magistrate Sumaira Alamgir on May 24, during which she identified the suspects.

The victim prayed before the area magistrate on Tuesday asking to record her statement again and seeking the re-examination of her earlier statement.

She said she had been influenced and pressured by the media and focal persons from NGOs who forced her to record her statement before the court.

In her application, she blamed the police for nominating the three police officials, saying that all the suspects were nominated in the FIR at the instigation of police and NGOs’ focal persons. She said the nominated suspects were not involved and were falsely implicated by the police.

She asked the court to cancel her earlier statement and record a new one, which she said was of her own free will.

Meanwhile, the police produced the four suspects in the court of the judicial magistrate for a five-day extension in their physical remand, as the police have recovered the gold ring and the money mentioned by the victim.

In view of the victim’s new application, judicial magistrate Mohammad Arshad turned down the request for an extension and sent the suspects to judicial lock-up. He directed the police to produce them in court on June 11 along with the case file and report.

The victim has alleged that she was in Bahria Town Phase 8 for Sehri on the night between 15 and 16 May when she was abducted and raped by four people, including three police officials.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2019