PESHAWAR, Jan 17: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday directed the alleged gang rape investigators to submit final charge sheet of the case to the relevant antiterrorist court after DNA and forensic tests were done on the girl's unborn baby to learn about its parents.

The rape victim from Marwatano Banda area in Karak district is likely to give birth to the baby in a couple of days.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth also ordered the shifting of the girl's kidnapping and rape case along with that of her brother's killing from Kohat's anti-terrorism court to Peshawar's.

The girl and her family have already been given free accommodation by the government on the court orders.

The court also initiated contempt of court proceedings against some of the accused and their sympathisers fortaking out a rally for an accused, police official Hakeem Shah, outside the local courts in Takhte Nusrati area. During the rally, speeches were delivered and slogans were shouted against the judiciary.

The court issued notices to detained assistant sub-inspector Hakeem Shah, Malik Ghali Bostan, Malik Hagdad Khan and Maulana Irshad Nawaz, saying why they should not be proceeded for contempt of court.

It observed that DSP Mohammad Subhan and ASI Muzzafar Khan, both suspect and in custody, had apparently abetted the contempt of the court by not blocking the rally despite having sufficient police force and arms and ammunition.

The court ordered the two's production on the next hearing for contempt proceedings and directed the provincial police officer/inspector general of police to begin departmental action against 29 suspended police officials in light of an inquiry in fair manner and in line with the law.The case involves around a dozen people, including three policemen, charged with the girl's kidnapping and gang rape, and the killing of her brother, Alamzeb, outside a court in Takhte Nusrati area on December 9.

The chief justice had taken suo motu notice of the killing and had ordered PPO Akbar Khan Hoti to conduct inquiry into the allegations of involvement of police officials on duty in the killing and about reports that policemen had taken out procession in support of an accused, Hakeem Shah.The victim, who is in advance stage of pregnancy, has named around 12 people, including army sepoy Naseebullah and police officials Pir Mohsin Shah, Hakeem Shah and Ameer Mohammad, for her kidnapping and repeated gang rape for around a year.

During the hearing, the court also asked police to provide the girl and her family with proper security at their Peshawar quarter and during movement to and from courts.

Opinion

Editorial

X post facto
Updated 19 Apr, 2024

X post facto

Our decision-makers should realise the harm they are causing.
Insufficient inquiry
19 Apr, 2024

Insufficient inquiry

UNLESS the state is honest about the mistakes its functionaries have made, we will be doomed to repeat our follies....
Melting glaciers
19 Apr, 2024

Melting glaciers

AFTER several rain-related deaths in KP in recent days, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has sprung into...
IMF’s projections
Updated 18 Apr, 2024

IMF’s projections

The problems are well-known and the country is aware of what is needed to stabilise the economy; the challenge is follow-through and implementation.
Hepatitis crisis
18 Apr, 2024

Hepatitis crisis

THE sheer scale of the crisis is staggering. A new WHO report flags Pakistan as the country with the highest number...
Never-ending suffering
18 Apr, 2024

Never-ending suffering

OVER the weekend, the world witnessed an intense spectacle when Iran launched its drone-and-missile barrage against...