LAHORE: Despite using all available technical and human resource, the Punjab police have so far failed to trace prime accused Abid Malhi in the motorway gang rape case.

Search operations in Kasur, Nankana Sahib and Sheikhupura on the basis of “intelligence reports” about his presence have exposed the Punjab police capability to nab a criminal.Father, wife, minor daughter and some cousins of the accused are among those in the custody of the police.

A police source said that the teams of law enforcement agencies working on the case had managed to obtain travel history of Malhi.

It suggested the accused had travelled to Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa several times in the past to take a refuge after committing crime or to see his relatives/friends. “Accordingly, the police teams are being dispatched to these provinces.”

The official source further said police had released various sketches of the fleeing accused with shaved head and without mustache since he could change his get-up to avoid arrest.

He said the IGP had issued directions to all the regional police officers to enhance security and deployment at entry and exit points of the districts to check movement of the accused.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2020