MINGORA, April 17 A five-member team investigating the flogging by Taliban militants of a teenage girl in Swat has said in its final report that the video footage of the incident shown on TV channels is “fake and false”.

This was stated by Interior Secretary Kamal Shah at a press conference at the Commissioner's House in Saidu Sharif on Friday. The NWFP IG Malak Naveed Khan, Malakand Commissioner Mohammad Javed Khan, Swat DCO Khushal Khan and Acting DIG of Malakand Danishwar Khan were also present.

The interior secretary said the probe team, headed by the Malakand DIG, had been formed after the Supreme Court chief took a suo motu notice of the incident. “It has completed its investigation and handed over a report to me,” he said, adding that the report would be submitted before an eight-member bench of the Supreme Court during the next hearing.

According to Mr Kamal Shah, the report said that the video footage was “false and fake” and that no such incident had taken place.

He said the team and Ilaqa Qazi had recorded statements of both the girl and the man who were allegedly flogged and they had disowned the video tap. “The people of the area have also expressed ignorance about the incident.” He said the girl and the man would not be forced to appear in court, but in case court issues any directive, the IG and the administration would be asked to present them before the court.

In reply to a question, he said his visit to the area was in compliance with the directives of the apex court, adding that he had met members of the investigation team and other government officials.