NAWABSHAH, Nov 22: Dis-trict Nazim Faryal Talpur has called upon health officials to constitute a medical board for medical examination of two girls allegedly tortured and criminally assaulted by their step-father.

Talking to Dawn here on Tuesday, she said she had written letters to health and home departments to constitute a board for medical examination of the girls, daughters of Akhtar Hussain, and to conduct an impartial inquiry into the matter.

She said the matter was of serious nature and no political or other pressure would be tolerated.

On Monday, the A-section police registered an FIR under sections 10/3, 18, Zina Hudood Ordinance, and 354, PPC, on the complaint of Parveen, daughter of Ghulam Rasool Bhutto, against Mohammad Ayub Rajput, alias Ayub Punjabi.

The accused, who claims to have married the girls’ mother, has been arrested.

DPO Ghulam Sarwar Jamali said the complainant was a neighbour of Ayub Rajput.

He said a provisional certificate issued by the registrar of the People’s Medical College Hospital showed no evidence of torture or sexual assault. However, he added, a medical board would be constituted for the girls’ check-up.

He said the complainant was not an eyewitness and the statement of one of the girls was not admissible.

The DPO further said an investigation into the case was underway and police were looking for Ms Baby, mother of the girls, to record her statement.

Nawabshah TPO Aijaz Tareen said the girls were in custody of women police and would remain there till their security was assured.

Meanwhile, members of the Nawabshah Aurat Foundation, including Rukhsana Mushtaq, Khawar Sultana, Zaibunnisa Kamboh and Yasmeen Soomro, held a protest demonstration against the medical report issued by the PMCH. The protesters were joined by the district nazim.

They demanded constitution of a medical board for check-up of the girls and punishment to the accused otherwise, they warned, they would observe a token hunger strike.

Dr Shabana, registrar of the PMCH, in the provisional medical certificate stated that there were no signs of torture or criminal assault on the girls. She, however, said samples were being sent to a Rohri laboratory for chemical examination.