LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench on Friday issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of gang-rape suspect, former office-bearer of PML-N youth wing, as he failed to join proceedings of a prosecution’s appeal against the bail granted to him by a lower court.

The bench headed by Justice Shahid Hameed Dar directed the police to produce the suspect on Dec 23.

Additional prosecutor general Abdul Samad appeared before the bench and asked it to issue non-bailable warrants for the arrest of the suspect for his constant failure to appear before the court.

The prosecution department in its appeal contended that a sessions court granted bail to the accused after the aggrieved girl tendered an affidavit in his favour. It said the affidavit filed by the girl was a result of pressure exerted on her family by the accused party.

The appeal stated that the girl in her first statement recorded before a judicial magistrate had maintained that `S’ was the prime suspect.

It said after the victim’s statement the suspect could not be given concession of bail. It asked the court to declare the affidavit of the girl void and cancel bail granted to the suspect.

The Racecourse police had arrested the prime suspect and his seven accomplices on charges of abducting a teenage girl and subjecting her to gang-rape.

All the suspects, except the main accused, joined the high court’s proceedings through their counsel.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2016