MUZAFFARGARH: Police arrested a suspect on Monday for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl.

The girl was allegedly raped by the suspect, while two his accomplices — a man and a woman — were also booked under sections 376(iii), 201, 202, and 367 of the Pakistan Penal Code, City SHO Hussain Ali Syed said.

Following the rape, as the girl suffered excessive bleeding, the female accomplice along with the male one took her to Thal Hospital where doctors referred her to the Muzaffargarh District Headquarters Hospital. At hospital, the rape survivor disclosed the incident to her relatives.

The SHO said the arrest of the rape suspect was part of chief minister’s ‘Never Again’ campaign against violence against women and children.

He said strict legal action would be taken and that no leniency would be shown to the rape accused.

Police are conducting raids to apprehend the remaining suspects.

Also, the Layyah police foiled an attempt to smuggle 10kg hashish and arrested a suspect during a checkpoint operation on Monday.

SI Sajjad Bashir and ASI Riaz of Fatehpur police intercepted a suspicious motorcycle and found a large quantity of drugs hidden in a nearby hut.

The suspect, identified as Ayaz Hussain, was taken into custody.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2025